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SALT LAKE CITY — While the approaching summer is usually seen by students as a positive, the school year coming to a close also means some students may potentially miss out on a meal that was provided while they attended school.
Fortunately, students in the Granite, Salt Lake City, Jordan, Murray and Canyons school districts will have the option to access meals provided by their schools over the summer months. Other school districts throughout the state are also offering summer meals.
"Hunger continues, children are still hungry through the summer," said Kelly Orton, director of child nutrition for the Salt Lake City School District.
Here's a breakdown of each program, by district:
Salt Lake City School District
The Salt Lake City School District will open seven of its schools to their summer meal program, with Escalante Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Mary W. Jackson Elementary, Meadowlark Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, North Star Elementary and Washington Elementary School kicking off services on June 7.
This program is free to anyone 18 and under.
Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Monday through Thursday with lunch being served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, though Mary W. Jackson Elementary will be open for breakfast and lunch on Fridays.
The school sites will be closed on June 20, July 4 and July 25.
In addition to the school sites, the district will also be serving lunch at various parks within the district to expand access to meals, beginning on June 7.
Fairmont, Jordan, Liberty, Riverside and Sherwood Park will be serving lunch, with programs beginning anywhere from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and running until 12:30 p.m Monday through Friday.
Park sites will be closed on June 20, July 4 and July 25.
While most of the school sites will conclude the meal program on July 14 — the same day that summer school programs for the district come to a close — all of the park sites and Mary W. Jackson Elementary will serve meals until Aug. 23.
Orton said that these sites are open to the public, regardless of whether or not they're enrolled in a Salt Lake City School District school.
"Anyone can come during those hours," Orton said.
More details regarding Salt Lake City School District's summer meal plan can be found here.
Jordan School District
The Jordan School District is also offering a summer meal program, where individuals that are 18 and younger can get free meals.
The program, which starts on June 6, will be available at Majestic Elementary School, Heartland Elementary School, Oquirrh Elementary School, Westvale Elementary School and Columbia Elementary School.
Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with lunch following from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Monday through Friday.
The summer meal program will conclude on Aug. 5 and there will be no meal service on July 4 and July 25.
Those looking for more information about Jordan School District's summer meal program can find it here.
Murray City School District
Murray City School District's free summer meal program will look a little different, especially during the month of June.
In June, families will be allowed to pick up meals that are needed, children will not be required to eat on-site and breakfast will be given for the next day in all lunch bags.
This is due to COVID-related federal programs that are set to expire on June 30, meaning that afterward, the district will go back to all pre-pandemic rules.
After June 30, family members will not be able to pick up lunches and children will be required to eat on-site and only lunch for that day will be served.
For both months, meals will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 12;30 p.m. at Horizon Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Parkside Elementary and Hillcrest Junior High as well as Hunter Woods Apartments and Frontgate Apartments.
The program will run from June 6 to July 29.
Additional information can be found here.
Canyons School District
Canyons School District students — or anyone 18 and under — will be able to receive free breakfast and lunch throughout the months of June and July, the district announced.
The meals will be served inside school cafeterias at East Midvale Elementary, Midvale Elementary, Sandy Elementary and Midvalley Elementary.
Breakfast will be served Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m to 9:15 a.m. with lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
There will be no meal service on July 4 and July 25.
Granite School District
Salt Lake County's largest school district will be providing free meals to kids who are 18 and younger throughout the summer as part of the USDA's Summer Lunch program.
Academy Park Elementary, Hillsdale Elementary, Pleasant Green Elementary, Redwood Elementary and Silver Hills Elementary will kick off their programs on June 6. They will serve lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hillside Elementary will run on the same schedule, with their program beginning on June 8.
Arcadia Elementary, Farnsworth Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Orchard Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, Plymouth Elementary, South Kearns Elementary, Stansbury Elementary, Taylorsville Elementary, West Kearns Elementary and Western Hills Elementary will start their programs on June 13. They will serve lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The program will conclude for all schools on Aug. 5 with the exception of Twin Peaks Elementary, which will begin its program on June 7, where lunch will be served every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until June 30.
All sites will be closed on July 4 and July 25.
Lunch will be served in cafeterias and, similar to the other districts, students must be present to receive a meal. Parents will not be permitted to pick up meals to take home.
More information on Granite School District's free summer lunch program can be found here.
"I see children who are hungry, I see the need in their communities and to be able to provide a nutritious meal and just something to these families ... we think it makes an impact," Orton said. "We do make a difference in the community."
