When School is Out, Summer Food Program is in Session

In the deep shade of Emerald Park’s tree-ringed playground, elementary-aged kids run, climb, and laugh. It’s a hot day, and parents, caregivers and kids alike are glad to have the respite of shady benches.  

They’re not just at the park to play. At 11:30, the kids eagerly gather around picnic tables. Food for Lane County staff are happy to see every child. The children receive a full lunch—an entrée, fruit, milk—and happily scatter to eat.  

"Yay, pizza bagels!” kids yell as they open their lunches provided by the Summer Food Program.

This scene is repeated across Lane County at dozens of parks, community centers, and school playgrounds all summer long. By the time summer has concluded and the kids are back at school, Food for Lane County expects to have served 60,000 free lunches to any child who needs one.  

Filling the Lunch-time Gap

School meals have become an essential building block for thriving kids in Lane County—more than half of children in area schools qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch. Food for Lane County is a vital partner to the districts all year long, stocking 11 school-based pantries and 4 early childhood centers, and providing 26,000 weekend snack packs for kids to take home.  

But summer presents a gap for local families. The end of the school year means many will scramble to find and afford summer childcare and to provide essential nutrition that school meals take care of.  

Food for Lane County’s Summer Food Program aims to fill that gap by providing free, nutritious meals to youth aged 18 and under during the summer months. Starting June 22 and running through August 21, families can come to one of more than 25 locations across Eugene, Springfield, Thurston, Creswell, Junction City and Veneta for a healthy lunch every weekday between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. 

“Students’ nutritional needs are met through free school lunch during the academic year, but they’re left without it during the summer,” said Youth and Family programs manager Mtima Richardson. “That’s why this program is so important. We’re able to continue that resource in a non-stigmatized way because it’s open to everybody.”

Meeting Rural Families Where They’re At

In 2025, Food for Lane County expanded the program to meet the needs of kids in a few rural Lane County communities with the Summer Food Grab-N-Go Program. This year they’re going even further, reaching Oakridge, Dexter, Pleasant Hill and Blachly. 

Food for Lane County staff deliver lunches once a week, stopping at designated locations across rural communities. At each stop, every child is handed a bag with five days’ worth of lunches.

For the first time, Food for Lane County is partnering with existing pantry programs in rural communities to serve as Summer Food distribution sites.  “Our rural pantry partners are a great resource for our neighbors year-round,” said Richardson. “Expanding our existing collaboration to include summer lunch delivery is something we’re excited about.”

More than a Meal

Partnerships make each lunchtime more than just a meal. Food for Lane County works with community organizations and nonprofits to provide enrichment activities at Summer Food Program stops. Collaborations with organizations like SMART Reading, the Book Givers, and area libraries provide books and fun activities for kids while they eat lunch. 

Children can read, color, and do puzzle games while eating a nutrient-dense meal. These collaborations are designed to keep kids curious and engaged over the summer when learning loss is a concern, especially for low-income families.

“I really love working with public libraries,” said Richardson. “During the school year, meals and learning go together. We’re taking even a small step to continue that and combat the learning loss we see during the long break.”

Food for Lane County is also partnering with Eugene 4J school district to provide lunches for a kindergarten readiness program and a special education program, serving approximately 4,300 meals. “We’re glad that we’re able to step in and support programs that have been affected by budget cuts,” said Richardson.

The partnership with school districts doesn’t just happen during the summer. Richardson keeps in touch with teachers and school administrators year-round, asking what they’re seeing in their classrooms, and strategizing how Food for Lane County can help meet the community’s nutritional needs. “We’re in constant conversation about how we can better support families,” she said. “Who doesn’t want to help kids?”

By Larissa Ennis

Senior Manager of Development and Communications at Food for Lane County