'A Lifeline': Seattle Sets Up 40 Locations for Free Summer Meals for Kids, 20 in the South End

On a recent day in June, interns with Seattle Parks and Recreation were ready to welcome neighborhood kids for an afternoon of games, activities, and a free lunch at South Park Plaza. 

On the day's menu: turkey sandwiches, with a choice of regular or chocolate milk. Need a vegetarian option? They had those too. 

South Park is one of 40 neighborhoods participating in the annual Seattle Summer Meals Program, providing free lunches and snacks for kids 18 and under. The initiative is designed to "still provide food, and nutrition, and activities to kids during the summertime when they're out of school," said Homer Ignacio, a recreation leader with Seattle Parks and Recreation.

"Everyone is welcome," Ignacio said. No ID, proof of residency, or application is needed to come grab a meal.

Sometimes school is the only place kids can get a full, nutritious meal, Ignacio said. "There's a huge community that needs it."

Most meal sites are located in parks, community centers, and housing communities. For lunch, interns distribute "convenient kid-friendly options," like bagels, sandwiches, or wraps, Kamaria Hightower with the Seattle Human Services Department wrote in an email. Some locations also provide breakfast and snack time. All meals are prepared by Seattle Public Schools.

Ignacio said that on a busy day, they can provide up to 50 meals a day.

Providing free meals is especially important this year amid significant cuts to federal food aid programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, Hightower wrote in a press release. 

"This program is a lifeline for many children and families as costs for food and other living expenses continue to rise," Mayor Bruce Harrell wrote in a statement.

Last year, the meal program fed roughly 60,000 kids citywide. Hightower said they expect to feed close to the same amount this summer. 

At locations like South Park Plaza, interns provided gym equipment and planned activities, from sports and education to arts and crafts, on an open lawn in between meal times. This year, providers introduced mental health exercises.

"It's just to know that they are not alone, and that they can open up and speak to anyone," Ignacio said. "Even when you're bored [in the summer], that's when anxiety happens." 

Amid recent concerns over actions by U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Hightower wrote that providers will "neither aid nor interfere with enforcement actions." The city's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, however, provides "Know Your Rights" resources to help on-site workers "respond appropriately to concerns that may arise."

"We remain focused on ensuring safe access to healthy meals for children and teens throughout the summer," Hightower wrote. 

The program is open Monday to Friday from June 25 to Aug. 22. 

To find the locations of summer meals programs, click on the 2025 Summer Meals Site List and scroll to "How to Apply."