Free Summer Food Program Returns for Long Beach Youth 

As summer break begins, Long Beach is once again making sure local youth have access to free, nutritious meals throughout the season.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine will offer the USDA Summer Food Service Program beginning June 15, providing free meals for children and teens ages 1 to 18 at parks and library locations across Long Beach and Signal Hill.

The program will run weekdays through Aug. 21 at 23 sites citywide, helping ensure families in neighborhoods throughout the area can easily access healthy meal options while school is out for summer.

No registration is required to participate. Youth can simply visit a participating location during designated meal service times to receive lunch on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meals will include a variety of nutritious options such as fruits, vegetables, milk and juice, with lunches served in designated onsite eating areas.

City officials say the long-running program plays an important role in supporting families during the summer months, when many children no longer have access to school-provided meals.

The Summer Food Service Program has been a staple in Long Beach since 1979 and has provided more than two million meals to local youth over the years. The federally funded program was created to help ensure children continue receiving balanced meals during summer vacation.

The program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the California Department of Education.

Additional information, including a complete list of meal sites and service hours, is available at lbcity.info/summerfoodprogram or by calling 562.570.3524.