Free summer meal program expands in El Paso County
As Colorado students break from class for the summer, there are still ample opportunities for free meals as they would have when school was in session.
The Summer Meals Program is funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Colorado Department of Education to ensure that children and teens maintain access to healthy meals during the summer months.
This year more than 80 sponsors have partnered with the program and over 600 locations are available to children ages 18 and younger across Colorado.
“Providing students the nourishment they need is as important during the summer months as it is in the school year, which is why the summer meals program is so beneficial,” said Susana Córdova, a State Board of Education commissioner, in a press release.
In the Pikes Peak region, Ellicott D-22, Hanover D-28, Fountain-Fort Carson D-8, Widefield D-3, Colorado Springs D-11, Harrison D-2 and D-49 are all providing free meals to children across 44 locations.
Parents do not need to apply to the program for their children to get free summer meals, and each location is accessible to anyone.
Organizations that can serve free meals through the program include local schools, nonprofit organizations, government entities, camps, universities, and community and faith-based organizations.
All the locations in El Paso County provide on-site meals, but not all provide both breakfast and lunch. All programs will be closed on July 4 while Fountain-Fort Carson D-8 and Widefield D-3 locations will also be closed on June 19.
Additionally, start and stop times for each location also vary, with some running from late May into early August and others only available in June.
More information on each school district’s program can be found on their respective websites.
Other summer meal programs available to qualifying children and families include the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT). Unlike the Summer Meals Program, Summer EBT is only available to students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program or receive other assistance like SNAP and Colorado Works.
A full list of free meal locations can be found below.
Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8
– Aragon Elementary: 211 S. Main St.
– Patriot Elementary: 7010 Harr Ave.
– Fountain Middle School: 515 N. Sante Fe Ave.
– Monterey Elementary: 2311 Monterey Road
– Stratton Meadows Elementary: 610 Brookshire Ave.
– Sand Creek International School: 550 Sand Creek Drive
– Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center: 1520 Verde Drive
– Widefield Parks and Recreation: 755 Aspen Drive
– Pinello Elementary: 2515 Cody Drive
– Sunrise Elementary: 7070 Grand Valley Drive
Colorado Springs School District 11
– A-1 Mobile Home Park: 1025 Gamer St.
– Bristol Elementary: 890 Walnut St.
– Boys & Girls Clubs: 805 Praderia Ave.
– Canterbury Mobile Home Park: 3020 S. Powers Blvd.
– Carmel Community Center: 1700 S. Chelton Road
– Carver Elementary: 4740 Artistic Circle
– Centennial Elementary: 1860 S. Chelton Road
– Coronado High School: 1590 W. Fillmore St.
– Deerfield Hills Community Center: 4290 Deerfield Hills Road
– Doherty High School: 4515 Barnes Road
– East Branch Library: 5550 N. Union Blvd.
– Grant Elementary: 3215 Westwood Blvd.
– Henry Elementary: 1310 Lehmberg Drive
– Hillside Community Center: 925 S. Institute Drive
– Holy Cross Lutheran Church: 4125 Constitution Ave.
– Jackson Elementary: 4340 Edwinstone Ave.
– Jr. Academy: 1311 N. Nevada Ave.
– Keller Elementary: 3730 E. Montebello Drive
– McCoy Little John: 6805 Bismarck Road
– Meadows Mobile Home Park: 4825 Astrozon Blvd.
– Memorial Park: 1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave.
– Mitchell High School: 1205 Potter Drive
– Palmer High School: 301 N. Nevada Ave.
– Palmer Park: 3650 Maizeland Road
– Panorama Splash Park: 4550 Fenton Road
– Rogers Elementary School: 110 S. Circle Drive
– Roosevelt Charter School: 205 S. Byron Drive
– Round Up: 2121 E. La Salle St.
– Small Wonders: 4750 El Camino Drive
– Taylor Elementary: 900 E. Buena Ventura St.
– Tesla EOS School: 3302 Alpine Place
– Ridgeview Elementary: 6573 Shimmering Creek Drive
– Ellicott Middle School: 350 S. Ellicott Highway
– Hanover Junior-Senior High: 17050 S. Peyton Highway
