Inspiring Gift from the Heart: California Libraries Offer Free Summer Meals to Kids

Lunch at the Library provides free meals to youth when school is out for the summer. From June 17 through August 8, meals will be distributed at 13 library locations Tuesdays through Fridays from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.  

Libraries across California are providing free lunches to children during the summer months as part of the “Lunch at the Library” program.

No identification or paperwork is required to participate, and the library offers many resources to help families while school isn’t in session.

“One thing about Lunch at the Library, why libraries make such great places to offer meal programs like this, is we already have so many resources for families. Obviously, free books, computers,” said Christie Hamm from the Sacramento Public Library.

Hamm said there’s also a summer reading program available for all ages, in which participants can win prizes.

Lunch at the Library runs Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. until Aug. 8.

The program is happening at 13 libraries across the area:

• Arcade
• Carmichael
• Del Paso Heights
• Elk Grove
• Fair Oaks
• North Highland – Antelope
• North Sacramento – Hagginwood
• Rancho Cordova
• Rio Linda
• South Natomas
• Southgate
• Sylvan Oaks
• Valley Hi – North Laguna

This project was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

Have Questions?

Do we need to fill out paperwork?

Meals are provided without question for free to kids from 0-18 years of age. You don’t have to show ID, nor fill out any paperwork.

Why are meals served at the library?

During the summer families don’t always have consistent access to free meals since school is not in session. The library provides free Lunch at the Library to help fuel kids’ learning. Libraries offer convenient neighborhood locations to eat a meal as well as pick up reading materials, games, DVDs, and more. 

Who pays for Lunch at the Library?

The Summer Food Service Program is a program of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, administered in California by the California Department of Education.  Lunch at the Library is a project of the California State Library in partnership with the California Library Association and supported with funds from the State of California.

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