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Free Summer Meals program: What to know, where to go

Kids ages 18 and under in the City of Poughkeepsie are able to get a free lunch and breakfast Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The Poughkeepsie City School District Summer Meals program provides free food at five open locations, in addition to sending food to a wide range of summer camps and programs. No registration is required.

Lunch is provided at all five open sites, and breakfast is available only at the Pioneer on the Run bus, which will remain parked at Poughkeepsie High School each day. Seating will also be set up at the site. While some participating camps provide breakfast and lunch, others provide just one meal; contact your camp to learn more. The five open sites, which are subject to change are:

  • Adriance Memorial Library, 93 Market St.
    Lunch from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
  • MLK Apartments, 159 Washington St.
    Lunch from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
  • Hudson Garden Apartments, 120 Hudson Ave. Lunch from noon-1:00 p.m.
  • Thurgood Marshall, 109 Delafield St.
    Lunch from 11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
  • Pioneer on the Run bus at Poughkeepsie High School, 70 Forbus St.
    Breakfast, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
    Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

A cold meal will be provided at all sites, which includes deli sandwiches or wraps, fruit, vegetables and milk. A hot meal is available at the Pioneer On the Run bus, which will also be the site that serves Poughkeepsie’s summer school students.

The school district each day prepares hundreds of meals for children around the area through funding provided through the state.

“In this district, we have food insecurity,” said Director of Food Service Shameka Watson. “There’s children right now who are not eating food. Having these sites available will help feed some of our kids in the community.”

Each participating site operator received training on a variety of topics, most importantly food safety and the temperatures at which supplies and meals must be stored. The operation is subject to health department inspection and held to the same standard as any restaurant or cafeteria, with protocols in place to ensure all children are fed safely.

The summer meals program runs through Aug. 23. To find sites outside of the area operated by a different entity, visit www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks or call 1-866-348-6479.