Summer Eats program to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner options across Greenfield

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield School Department and the statewide food security nonprofit Project Bread are prepared to serve thousands of meals to children this summer, after kicking off the annual Summer Eats program on Wednesday afternoon.

From now through Aug. 21, any child under the age of 18 can stop at one of 16 different locations in Greenfield offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Greenfield School Department’s Director of Food & Nutritional Services Kristen Osborn said the program is an essential service that helps a lot of families keep their children fed during the summer, when free at-school meals are not available.

“It is crucial programming for kids and households in this region,” Osborn said. “It bridges the gap for the summer when school is closed and not providing free breakfast and lunch.”

Last year, nearly 3 million meals were served at more than 1,500 Summer Eats sites statewide, according to Project Bread. The program, which is federally funded and administered by the state government and local school districts, allows children and teenagers access to free meals each day, Monday through Friday.

“Summer is a time for kids to play, explore and recharge. But for many families across Massachusetts, it also means worrying about how to put food on the table,” Erin McAleer, president and CEO of Project Bread, said in a statement. “Summer Eats exists so that every child has a meal — whether it be at a local park, a library or school, the program is there for all kids and teens: no cost, no registration, no one left behind.”

No registration or ID is required for Summer Eats meals. Parents or guardians, if they wish, can visit the sites to pick up meals for their children. Additionally, those receiving food do not need to be students in the school district that handles the meals.

During Wednesday’s Summer Eats kick-off event at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area, families got to sample some of the options on this summer’s menu, including fried chicken, salad and fresh berries, while catching up with friends, playing lawn games and connecting with other organizations offering summer resources.

Greenfield resident Crystal Payant joked that she came to the program kick-off mostly because she didn’t feel like cooking that day. She has used the program previously and would use it again in the future, as it makes keeping her family fed easier.

“We used the summer meal program last year,” Payant said. “It’s great and super helpful.”

Staff served about 1,000 meals each day across the various Greenfield sites last year.

Heidi Forton and Sara Hannon of Franklin County’s YMCA said the organization is happy to partner with the schools and serve as one of the meal sites.

“Starting next week, anybody in the community can come to the Y’s Game Room and we’ll serve them lunch through the Summer Eats program,” Hannon said.

The Summer Eats program also provides meals to the Greenfield Recreation Department’s summer camp participants. Recreation Director Christy Moore said it’s a great partnership, ensuring campers are fed while also offering an accessible meals location for the Greenfield School Department.

“They utilize our parks a lot to serve our community. We have a summer camp that’s hosted here, and they come in and provide free breakfast and lunch to our campers and anybody in the community that needs a meal,” Moore said. “I appreciate everything their service program does for the youth in our community.”

Meal sites

Drive-thru grab and go sites are open from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Greenfield High School will be open weekdays from June 29 to Aug. 21 and Greenfield Middle School will be open from June 29 to Aug. 14. These sites offer breakfast and lunch only.

The Green Wave food truck will provide breakfast and lunch at: the Leyden Woods Apartments between Lilac and Bayberry courts from 10:20 to 10:50 a.m., the Legion Avenue parking lot from 11:10 to 11:25 a.m., the Greenfield Gardens at 58 Pray Drive from 11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., Hillside Park on Grove Street from 12:20 to 12:50 p.m. and the Oak Courts housing complex in front of 7 Oak Courts from 1 to 1:30 p.m. The truck will be traveling to these sites through Aug. 21.

The Green Wave food truck will bring dinner to: the Greenfield Skate Park on Chapman Street on Mondays, the Greenfield Public Library on Main Street on Tuesdays, Just Roots community farm on Glenbrook Drive on Wednesdays and Foster’s Supermarket on Allen Street on Thursdays. The truck will be at each of these locations from 5 to 6 p.m. through Aug. 14.

Those looking to have a sit-down meal for breakfast or lunch can go to the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area on Nash’s Mill Road (breakfast is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), the Game Room at Franklin County’s YMCA on Main Street (lunch is from noon to 12:30 p.m.) and Greenfield High School (breakfast is from 8 to 8:15 a.m. and lunch is from 11:30 to noon) until Aug. 14. Greenfield High School’s site opens July 6.

There will also be breakfast at Camp Kee-wanee on Health Camp Road from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. and lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Nearby in Shelburne, the Y’s Camp Apex will offer breakfast from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information about Greenfield’s Summer Eats program, visit gpsk12.org/departments/food-services-dept/greenfield-summer-eats. To view more sites that are participating in the program in Massachusetts, visit projectbread.org/summer-eats-program.