Free Summer Meal program returns with new locations for 2026
Parks Tacoma’s summer meal team is ready to welcome youth to 14 locations across the city. Starting Monday, June 22 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.
Last year, Parks Tacoma distributed 18,686 meals throughout Tacoma which accounted for 18.9% of meals distributed in the entirety of Pierce County.
Lunch typically consists of a sandwich on wheat bread or hoagie roll with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and mustard and mayonnaise condiment packets. They also include either a piece of fresh fruit, or fruit cup, and low-fat milk. New this year is the offering of low-fat chocolate milk on Thursdays and Fridays. Meals are served on a first-come, first-served basis from 12:30 to 1:30 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. to12:30 p.m., youth are invited to participate in games and activities.
Programming and meal service will be provided Monday through Friday, June 22 to August 28, with the exception of July 3. No registration is required to attend.
Community Market Resource Fairs presented by Coordinated Care will be held during the Summer Meal Program on Thursday, July 9, at Verlo Playfield and Thursday, July 30, at Stewart Heights Park. These free events are held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and are a great opportunity for the public to connect with a variety of community resources all in one place. Agencies will be onsite to help participants discover opportunities for food, healthcare, social services and more in Tacoma and surrounding areas.
Free Summer Meals Locations
- Eastside Family Resource Center (Next to Roosevelt Park), 3569 E Roosevelt Ave
- Franklin Park, 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave
- Lincoln-Eldridge Park, 801 S. 37th St
- Manitou Park, 4408 American Lake Blvd
- Northeast Tacoma Playground, 5520 29th St. NE
- Oakland Madrona, 3114 S Madison
- Sawyer Tot Lot, 3315 S Sawyer St
- SERA/STAR Center, 3873 S 66th St.
- South Park, 4851 S Tacoma Way
- 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 meets or exceeds USDA nutrition standards. Meals are provided by Pioneer Human Services.
More information about the program can be found online at ParksTacoma.gov/summer-meals.
Media Contact
Tara Mattina, Marketing, Communications and Brand Manager
(253) 792-1314 or [email protected]
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
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 OSPI Community Nutrition Programs Reference Sheet OSPI CNS August 2019 in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email; [email protected].
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Age Requirements for the Program
Children 18 years of age and younger are eligible to participate in the Summer Food Service Program. Persons over 18 years old who are physically or mentally disabled and participating in a public or nonprofit private school program established for children with these disabilities may also participate in this program.