Here are all the places Boston youth can pick up free breakfast and lunch this summer
The Boston Summer Eats program kicked off on July 6.
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When Massachusetts schools closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, hunger was at the forefront of many families’ minds: Where would children and teenagers who rely on school meals get their next breakfast and lunch? To address the issue, a network of public schools systems began offering free meals to students in need. Now that summer has started, the Boston Summer Eats program has returned, adding almost 100 sites to a growing list of organizations that are keeping kids fed.
On July 6, the program launched 97 meal sites across the city, inviting any youth under the age of 18 to pick up healthy meals at no cost. Participants in the Boston Summer Eats program, which Mayor Walsh began in 2017 in partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital, are not required to show an ID or register for a meal ahead of time. And, unlike previous years, participants do not have to be involved in summer programming — all youth in Boston are able to access these meals.
In 2019, the program served 37,080 meals across 38 sites in 12 neighborhoods. This year, Summer Eats partnered with Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Program and the YMCA of Greater Boston to increase the number of sites serving meals. Hours vary depending on the site, though all meal pick-up locations currently offer both breakfast and lunch.
In addition to Summer Eats, public schools, soup kitchens, and food pantries throughout the state have continued to offer free meals. Check out the map below for a full list of places offering free breakfast and lunch for both adults and school-aged children.
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