It’s not often you can say you got a lunch at a food truck — for free.
For kids in Snohomish, that’s the sweet deal. Or, better put, the nutritious deal.
It’s summer, which means many schools, churches and community centers are offering free lunches to area kids, no questions asked. The federally subsidized program is an extension of the meals that low-income students receive during the school year.
Since 2012, Snohomish has taken those summer lunches on the road as well as to cafeterias. For three years, Bickford Ford donated the use of a van. This year, the program realized its dream and purchased a used food truck — now a bright blue, with a “Kids Café” logo.
Funding was provided through the district’s food service provider, Chartwells, and other local donations.
The food truck offers “lunch on the run” at four of the district’s meal sites.
Some Snohomish County sites also serve snacks and breakfast.
At every site, all youth up to age 18 are welcome to come and eat. In some areas, adults can also purchase a meal.
Meal sites are listed below by school district. No meals will be served July 4.
Edmonds
Fun physical activities as well as lunch are offered 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday to Thursday, July 11 to Aug. 25. It’s free, but daily registration is required. Contact Kristi Vernon at 425-431-7092 or foundation-programs@edmonds.wednet.edu.
Alderwood Community Church, 3403 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Lynnwood
Mill Creek Foursquare Church, 1415 164th St. SW, Lynnwood
Everett
Cascade High School, 801 E Casino Road, 7:15 a.m. breakfast, 10:15-10:45 a.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 5 to Aug. 12
Emerson Elementary, 8703 Seventh Ave. SE, 8-8:30 a.m. breakfast, 12-12:30 p.m. lunch, Monday to Thursday, July 11 to Aug. 11
Everett Boys and Girls Club, 2316 12th St., 11 a.m.-noon lunch, 2-2:30 p.m. snack, Monday to Friday, July 5 to Aug. 25
Everett YMCA, 2720 Rockefeller Ave., 12-12:30 p.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 5 to Aug. 25
Family Tree Apartments, 10110 19th Ave. SE, 11-11:30 a.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 5 to Aug. 25
Garfield Elementary School, 2215 Pine St.,12-12:30 p.m. lunch, Monday to Thursday, July 5 to Aug. 25
Hawthorne Elementary School, 1110 Poplar St., 8-8:30 a.m. breakfast (Monday to Thursday, July 11 to Aug. 11); 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. lunch (Monday to Friday, July 5 to Aug. 25)
Lincoln Way Apartments, 2721 Lincoln Way, Lynnwood, 12-12:30 p.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 5 to Aug. 25
Madison Elementary School, 616 Pecks Drive, 12-12:30 p.m. lunch, Monday to Thursday, July 11-Aug. 12
North Middle School, 2514 Rainier Ave., 11:30-11:50 a.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 25 to Aug. 19
Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 215 Mukilteo Blvd., 12-12:30 p.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 18-July 22
Granite Falls
Granite Falls Middle School, 405 N Alder Ave., 12-1 p.m. through Aug. 19
Lake Stevens
Hillcrest Elementary School, 9315 Fourth St. SE, 12-12:30 p.m. Monday to Friday through Aug. 5 (adults, $3.75)
Marysville
Service at most sites is Monday to Friday, July 5 to Aug. 26. Adult meals are $1 for a snack, $2 for lunch.
Cedarcrest Middle School, 6400 88th St. NE, 9:45-10:15 a.m. snack, 12-12:45 p.m. lunch
Cascade Elementary School, 5200 100th St. NE, 9:45-10:15 a.m. snack, 12-12:45 p.m. lunch
Liberty Elementary School, 1919 10th St., 9:45-10:15 a.m. snack, 12-12:45 p.m. lunch
Shoultes Elementary School, 13525 51st Ave. NE, 9:45-10:15 a.m. snack, 12-12:45 p.m. lunch
Quil Ceda Elementary School, 2415 74th St. NE, 9:45-10:15 a.m. snack, 12-12:45 p.m. lunch, Monday through Thursday, July 5-28
Tulalip Boys and Girls Club, 7707 36th Drive NW, 2:30-3 p.m. snack, 12-12:30 p.m. lunch
Marysville Boys and Girls Club, 1010 Beach Ave., 2:30-3 p.m. snack, 11:30 a.m.-noon lunch
Westwood Crossing Apartments, 1350 Cedar Ave., 2-2:30 p.m. snack, 12-12:30 p.m. lunch
Cedar Grove Apartments, 7401 84th St. NE, 2-2:30 p.m. snack, 12-12:30 p.m. lunch Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Monroe
Frank Wagner Elementary School, 115 Dickinson St., 12-12:45 p.m. Monday to Friday, June 27 to Sept. 2
Learning activities follow lunch at 12:30 p.m. each day with different community groups, including the Monroe Police Department, Monroe Library and Monroe Boys and Girls Club. The school district seeks more organizations willing to host activities, to last an hour or more. Contact Rosemary O’Neil at 360-804-2503 or oneilr@monroe.wednet.edu.
Mukilteo
All of the sites except the Skills Center will also be closed July 5.
ECEAP, 3616 South Road, Suite C4, Mukilteo, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 25 to Aug. 19
Horizon Elementary School, 222 W. Casino Road, Everett, 8-9 a.m. breakfast (Monday to Friday, July 11 to Aug. 19); 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. lunch (Monday to Friday, through Aug. 19)
Olivia Park Elementary School, 200 108th St. SW, Everett, 8-9 a.m. breakfast, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, through Aug. 19
Odyssey Elementary School, 13025 17th Ave. W, Everett, 8-9 a.m. breakfast, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, July 11 to Aug. 19
Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center, 9001 Airport Road, Everett, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. lunch, Monday to Friday, through July 13
Voyager Middle School, 11711 Fourth Ave. W, Everett, 8-9 a.m. breakfast (Monday to Friday, July 11 to Aug. 19); 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. lunch (Monday to Friday, through Aug. 19)
Snohomish
Service at each site is Monday to Friday through Sept. 2.
Snohomish High School, 1316 Fifth Street, 8:30-9 a.m. breakfast and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. lunch
Snohomish Boys and Girls Club, 402 Second St., 8:30-9 a.m. breakfast and 11:30 a.m.-noon lunch
Three Rivers Mobile Home Park, 13201 Elliott Road, 11:15-11:30 a.m. lunch
Circle H Mobile Home Park, 6413 123rd Ave. SE, 12-12:15 p.m. lunch
Snohomish Aquatic Center, 516 Maple Ave., 12:30-12:45 p.m. lunch
Also look for the Book Café bookmobile (Mondays and Tuesdays through Aug. 30) at select locations.
Stanwood-Camano
Stanwood High School, 7400 272nd St. NW, 8:30-10 a.m. breakfast and 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. lunch, Monday to Thursday, June 27 to Aug. 18 (adults, $2.25 breakfast, $4.25 lunch)
Sultan
Sultan Boys and Girls Club, 605B First St., 9-9:30 a.m. snack service and 4-4:30 p.m. afternoon meal service, Monday to Friday through Aug. 31
Generally, meals must be served in communities where at least half of children are eligible for subsidized school meals. School districts that do not offer summer meals include Arlington, Darrington, Index and Lakewood.
There are some costs the government doesn’t cover. In Snohomish, for example, gas for the food truck, flyers and volunteer T-shirts are provided through donations.
Adult students with physical or mental disabilities who participate in a qualified school program can also get free meals.
To find other U.S. Department of Agriculture partner sites, call 866-348-6479, go to www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks, or text “food” to 877-877.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.