The Summer Meals program is a partnership including Multnomah County, six school districts, Portland Parks and Recreation, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, and the Oregon Department of Education. The goal is to prevent hunger by making it easy for kids and families to access fresh, healthy meals.
More than 550,000 Oregonians are food insecure. Among those, nearly 200,000 are children. Many kids rely on school meals for food, and the Summer Meals program fills a critical gap while school is out.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared July 15-19 Summer Meals Week in Oregon to highlight the availability of the program. While more than 300,000 children are eligible for free or reduced lunch during the school year, fewer than 40,000 participate in the Summer Meals program statewide.
Here's how to find your nearest summer meal site:
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Visit SummerFoodOregon.org
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Call or text 2-1-1 and mention “summer meals”
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Text the word “food” to 877-877
Fresh, nutritious meals are available at schools, parks, community centers and faith-based organizations. And the program isn’t just serving up food. On-site programming run by parks and rec programs, school district staff, and other organizations keeps kids active and learning.
Most sites are open to all children, and no application or proof of income is required. Participants only need to show up. Adults are also welcome and able to purchase a meal at the cost of what the program pays to provide it.