Free Summer Meal program returns with new locations for 2025

Parks Tacoma’s summer meal team is ready to welcome youth to 12 locations across the city. Starting Monday, June 23 all children 18 years of age and younger can drop in and receive a free sack lunch Monday through Friday.

Summer can create a more challenging situation for families navigating food insecurity when schools are closed and no longer providing weekday breakfast and lunch. Nearly 60% of children enrolled in Tacoma Public Schools qualify to receive free or reduced lunch and these sites prioritize areas with higher need identified by the district.

Parks Tacoma served 15,116 meals during the summer program in 2024, nearly double the year before.

Lunch typically consists of a sandwich on wheat bread or hoagie roll with meat and cheese, with mustard and mayonnaise condiment packets on the side. They also include either a piece of fresh fruit, or fruit cup; low-fat milk; and a choice of carrots, snap peas or celery sticks. Meals are served on a first-come, first-served basis from 12:30 to1:30 p.m. and must be eaten on site.

These sites offer play equipment and spraygrounds, and Parks Tacoma staff will provide on-site programming before lunch is served. From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., youth are invited to participate in games and activities.

Programming and meal service will be provided through Monday through Friday, June 23 to August 29, with the exception of July 4. No registration is required to attend.

Free Summer Meal Locations

• Edna Travis Park, 2301 South J St
• Franklin Park, 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave
• Lincoln Park, 801 S. 37th St
• Manitou Park, 4408 American Lake Blvd
• Northeast Tacoma Playground, 5520 29th St. NE
• Eastside Family Resource Center (Next to Roosevelt Park), 3569 E Roosevelt Ave
• SERA Campus Playground/Sprayground, 6002 S. Adams St
• Stewart Heights Park, 5715 Reginald Gutierrez Ln
• Titlow Park, 8425 6th Ave
• Verlo Playfield, 4321 McKinley Ave
• Wapato Park, 6500 S. Sheridan Ave
• Wright Park, 501 South I St.

Parks Tacoma’s Free Summer Lunch program is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and meet or exceed USDA nutrition standards. More information about the program and where to find additional summer meal options can be found online at ParksTacoma.gov/summer-meals.

Parks Tacoma is an equal opportunity provider. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Dependence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

1. fax: (202) 690-7442
2. email: [email protected]