Free youth meals offered at schools, parks

Several local school districts and parks will offer a variety of free summer meals for toddlers as well as high schoolers. 

Some will be offered in a weekly grab-and-go format weekly, while others will be offered daily and need to be eaten on site. 

Here’s a look at some of those opportunities around Wayne County. 

Western Wayne Schools

Free breakfast and lunches will be offered on summer weekdays for youth at Western Wayne Elementary School. 

Meals start June 5 and end Aug. 4. The cafeteria is closed from July 3-8. 

Breakfast is served from 9:15 to 10 a.m. and lunch is from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Meals will be offered for ages 2 to 18 at no charge. Adults can eat for $1.50 for breakfast and $2.50 per lunch.

Participants are to enter door ES8 from the back parking lot of 801 E. Delaware St. in Cambridge City.

For more information, call 765-478-3326 or email bhuddleston@wwayne.k12.in.us.

Nettle Creek

Free breakfast and lunch will be offered to children under age 18 at Hagerstown Jr-Sr. High School on weekdays starting June 5.

Meals for pickup will be offered from 1-2 p.m. Mondays. Families may pick up as many as five breakfasts and five lunches a week by going to the school’s circle drive. Families will be asked to verify the names of children in their household.

Meals will be offered in the school cafeteria. Breakfast is from 7:45-8:05 a.m. and lunch, noon-1 p.m. Meals must be eaten on site. Entrance is from Door 25 on the south side of the building.

For special nutritional needs, contact kbush@nettlecreek.k12.in.us or 765-489-4555. For more information, view nettlecreekschools.nutrislice.com. The school is located at 701 Baker Road.

Richmond Community Schools

RCS is offering free meals for any youth at some of its school buildings as well as some of the free Just Us Kids Outdoors day camp locations operated by Richmond Parks and Recreation Department. Dates and times vary by site; however, all sites are closed July 3-4.

May 30-July 28: Richmond High School, 101 S.W. D St. Breakfast: 7:30-8:30 a.m.; lunch,10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

June 5 – July 28: Breakfast: 8:45-9:15 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Crestdale Elementary School, 701 Crestdale Drive; Lunch: 11 a.m.-noon, snack 2-3 p.m. Central United Methodist Church, 1425 E. Main St.; Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Glen Miller Park, 2200 E. Main St.; Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays only, Cordell Municipal Pool, 9 S.W. 13th St. 

June 5 – July 13: Vaile Elementary School, 300 S. 14th St. Lunch 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

June 5-Aug. 4: Mary Scott Park (105 N.W. Eighth St.), Clear Creek Park (1201 W. Main St.) and Springwood Park (60 Waterfall Road). Lunch is served at all from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

For more information, call 765-962-2362. 

Additional meals/groceries

Free evening/weekend meals are available at several sites.

Those include Bridges for Life’s weekly Dinner at the Lamp, 6 p.m. Fridays at First Presbyterian Church, 100 N. 10th St., Richmond. 

Circle U Help Center provides hot meals at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays, 19 N. 13th St., Richmond. 765-966-1013

Several food pantries offer groceries at least monthly for residents of their communities. 

Monthly pantries include:

• Cambridge City Food Pantry, 9-10 a.m. third Saturday and the following Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. and 6-7 p.m., Cambridge City Christian Church, 106 W. Church St.;
• Circle U, 2-4 p.m. third Saturday; New Testament Church, 9-11 a.m. fourth Saturday, 752 W. Main St., Hagerstown;
• Gleaners food distribution: 9:30-11 a.m. fourth Monday, First Christian Church parking area, 100 S. 10th St., Richmond, offering drive-thru or walk-up service, and no ID required.

Weekly pantries include:

• Bread Box, 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Oak Park Pentecostals, 1920 Chester Blvd., Richmond;
• Gateway Hunger Relief Center, 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesdays and Fridays, 711 Sheridan St., Richmond.

If your non-profit organization is offering free meals or other opportunities for kids or teens this summer, send it to us. Information will be included as space permits.