LYNN — This summer, children can access free meals in Lynn through the Summer Eats Program, beginning late June through the end of August.
The Summer Eats Program provides free, healthy meals to all children and teens between the ages of 0 and 18 years old. These meals will be available at the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn and Girls Incorporated. Lynn Public Schools will offer meals at Ford Elementary School, Harrington Elementary School, Hood Elementary School, Ingalls Elementary School, Tracy Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School beginning on Monday, June 28, and running Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
No identification or registration is required, and children can show up to any Summer Eats site and receive meals free of charge.
“We understand the importance of offering meals to students throughout the summer, even when school is not in session,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Molly Cohen. “The summer meal program is an extension of providing lunch at all schools throughout the academic year, free of charge. Proper nourishment is a baseline requirement for all of us, and we want to make sure that continues for our students in the summer.”
The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently awarded the Summer Eats Program $535,000 in state-funded nutrition grants. Last year, Summer Eats served 2.5 million meals during the summer at more than 1,100 meal sites across the state.
“We are making sure that no child in Massachusetts goes hungry during the summer months,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “As families face rising grocery costs and federal cuts to food assistance, programs like Summer Eats are more important than ever.”
The administration, as well as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), has partnered with Project Bread on the Summer Eats Program.
“Summer Eats is a vital program for the 37 percent of Massachusetts households with children currently struggling to afford enough to eat,” said Erin McAleer, president and CEO of Project Bread. “We are proud to partner with the Healey-Driscoll administration and DESE on the program to strengthen and boost participation so children across the Commonwealth can have free healthy meals all summer long.”
Food insecurity has been the forefront of efforts made by the Healey-Driscoll Administration. Last April, the Anti-Hunger Task Force, of which Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson is a member, announced recommendations to take further action in protecting families across the state. That includes maximizing nutrition programs, like the Summer Eats Program, in communities that have been impacted by the federal administration’s cuts to food assistance programs like SNAP, as well as supporting food banks, and expanding access to emergency food systems.
Healey has also proposed in her FY27 budget a new tax credit of up to $5,000 to farmers in Massachusetts who donate excess food to food banks and pantries in an effort to cut down on food waste.
“We know that families’ grocery bills increase in the summer when kids do not have access to school meals. With federal cuts to SNAP benefits and rising food insecurity, access to programs like Summer Eats has never been more important. I am pleased we are able to offer this funding, helping expand healthy food access for kids during summer months across the state,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike.
