Free summer lunches for kids back June 30

Family summertime traditions often include splash parks and backyard playdates, but some children face a critical unmet need when the school year ends: hunger.

As many as 14 million children in the United States face food insecurity, or lack of access to adequate food, reports No Kid Hungry.

“Many kids struggle to get their nutritional needs met in the summer months because they often lose access to free or reduced-priced meals at school,” says Erica Lewis, RD, health promotion program manager at the MultiCare Center for Health Equity & Wellness. “Mary Bridge Children’s aims to fill that nutritional gap with healthy food that kids enjoy.”

Mary Bridge Children’s has served more than 60,000 free meals for kids during the summer since 2019, in partnership with the USDA Summer Food Service program. In 2024, 1,458 meals were served and made possible by over 800 hours of combined staff and volunteer support.

New support this year comes from proceeds from Sound to Narrows, MultiCare’s hometown race tradition.

Where and when to find free summer meals

Free lunches will soon be available for children under 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that the dates and mealtimes below are location-specific.

Option #1: Mary Bridge Children’s Outpatient Center – Tacoma
Free lunch service: Weekdays from Monday, June 30, through Friday, Sept. 5
Hours: 11am-1pm
Note: At the Tacoma campus location, meals will not be available Friday, July 4, or Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of national holidays.

Option #2: Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library Conference Room
Free lunch service: Fridays from July 11 through Aug. 29
Hours: Noon-1pm
Note: At the library location, story time will be available during lunch. Free books will also be available for participating families while supplies last.

Getting there and enjoying lunch

If visiting our Tacoma location, please note there is ongoing construction as we build our new pediatric hospital. We recommend viewing the updated map and parking information before heading to campus.

At all sites, lunches must be eaten on-site due to program requirements. Seating will be available for children to relax and eat their meals.

“We eat first with our eyes, which means the presentation of food really matters,” says Lewis. “We put a lot of care into making meals that kids want to eat. In addition to offering a protein like turkey or peanut butter, the lunches will feature colorful sides of fruits and vegetables as well as milk. Every year we try new fun food combinations from participant feedback, so come see what tasty meals we are serving up in 2025.”

Find other summer meal sites

If you can’t make it to Mary Bridge Children’s Tacoma campus or the Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library, you can find other free summer meals in communities across the country through the same USDA program:

• United Way of King County Summer Meals Site Finder (can be used to find sites throughout the U.S.)
• USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder
• Text the word “FOOD” TO 509-509

All families welcome

Sometimes families are hesitant to bring their kids for free summer lunches or worry whether they are “taking” meals away from kids who may need them more. Others may feel they don’t qualify if they already receive other benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

However, Lewis says all children are welcome to participate.

“Everybody needs good nutrition and deserves to enjoy their food,” she says. “Our doors are open to all children, regardless of their circumstances, and we have plenty of meals to offer. The more meals we serve, the greater our program success!”

Learn more about nutrition

Feeding well is an important step for children to grow and develop, and Mary Bridge Children’s registered dietitians are ready to help. Our pediatric wellness program has resources and on-demand educational videos that support positive relationships with food and the development of competent eaters.

Please visit Mary Bridge Children’s Nutrition Services to learn more about our specialty nutrition clinics and referral-based services. If you’re in need of food and nutrition assistance, please visit Mary Bridge Children’s Women, Children and Infants (WIC) or call 253-403-1349.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in June 2024 and updated in June 2025. 

Public Relations Specialist Kendal Kemery contributed to this article.