Written by Joe Armstrong, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
The school year is ending, but our commitment to addressing food insecurity and providing essential sustenance for children isn't stopping. Starting Friday, May 26, our free meal program provided in partnership with UMC Food Ministry will switch from afterschool meals to summer meals and snacks. This ensures that children who depend on these meals during the academic year can continue to enjoy nutritious food during the summer break.
Summer Meals and Snacks for Youth
Free meals and snacks are available Mondays through Fridays during the summer beginning Friday, May 26. For current dates and locations for afterschool meals, visit our Free Meals page.
- Avondale: Meal 1:15-1:45 p.m. | Snack 4:15-4:45 p.m.
- Bond Hill: Meal 1-2 p.m. | Snack 4-5 p.m.
- Cheviot: Meal 12-12:30 p.m.
- College Hill: Meal 1-1:30 p.m.
- Covedale: Meal 2-3 p.m. | Snack 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Deer Park: Meal 12:30-1:30 p.m. (ends August 14)
- Downtown Main Library: Meal 12-12:30 p.m.
- Elmwood Place: Meal 12-12:30 p.m. (ends August 30)
- Groesbeck: Meal 12:30-1 p.m. (ends August 18)
- Madisonville: Meal 2-3 p.m.
- Northside: Meal 3:30-4 p.m.
- Price Hill: Meal 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Snack 11-11:30 a.m.
- St. Bernard: Meal 12-12:45 p.m. | Snack 4-4:45 p.m. (ends August 30)
- Walnut Hills: Meal 4-5 p.m.
Meal service locations and serving times are subject to change. Participants must eat at the Library. Meal service is planned to transition back to afterschool hours on August 16 unless otherwise noted.
"UMCFOOD is keenly aware of the need of our partners (such as CHPL) have to provide educational, emotional, social, physical and spiritual support to the children of our communities. In order to fulfill their mission, the youth they serve need to be well fed and not hungry. Hungry children struggle to learn and grow; therefore the work that UMCFOOD does supports our partners as they speak into the lives of children and youth," says Rev. Dr. Larry Karow, CEO, UMCFOOD.
Who is Eligible for Meals
All children ages 1 through 18 are eligible to receive free meals. Individuals ages 19 through 21 who have been identified as having mental or physical disabilities and are following Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) through their current enrollment in educational programs also are eligible for free meals. There are no other eligibility requirements.
The UMC meal service is made possible through federal funding, as part of the USDA's Child Nutrition Programs.
See the latest dates and locations for our Free Meals service on our website.
Add a comment to: Free Meals Service Transitioning to Summer Hours