ALACHUA COUNTY – Thousands of Alachua County children will have access to free breakfasts and lunches this summer through a federally funded program designed to help families bridge the gap when school cafeterias close for the season.
The Alachua County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department will begin serving meals June 8 at approximately 70 locations across the county, including schools, community centers and other designated sites.
The Summer Meals Program is open to all children 18 and younger, regardless of household income or whether they attended public school during the regular academic year.
School officials say the program helps ensure children continue receiving nutritious meals during the summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are unavailable.
Children do not need to be enrolled at a particular school or summer program to participate, nor do they need to have qualified for free or reduced-price meals during the school year.
In addition to traditional meal sites where food is served on location, the district will operate 12 weekly “grab-and-go” pickup locations throughout the county. Those sites will be located in Alachua, Archer, East Gainesville, Hawthorne, High Springs, Newberry, Waldo and at the School Board’s Sivia Center, which will offer a late-day pickup option.
Families using those locations may pick up meal kits on Mondays from June 8 through July 20. Each kit contains seven days of breakfast and lunch items that can be prepared at home.
The pickup sites are the only locations where meals may be taken off-site.
“Families can take their children to the site that is most convenient for them,” said Jamie Dicks, director of the district’s Food and Nutrition Services Department. “They just show up during the serving or pickup times and take advantage of nutritious meals, with no registration required.”
The district also offers baby formula, cereal and food for infants. Families seeking those items are asked to contact the Food and Nutrition Services Department at least two days in advance to make arrangements.
Most meal sites will begin operating June 8, with some continuing through July 24. Serving dates and times vary by location.
Complete schedules and site locations are available through the Alachua County Public Schools website at https://alachuaschools.net/summermeals2026 or by calling the Food and Nutrition Services Department at 352-955-7539.
Children receive meals through the Alachua County Public Schools Summer Meals Program. The federally funded initiative will provide free breakfasts and lunches at approximately 70 locations across the county beginning June 8, with grab-and-go meal kits available in several communities.
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