Free school lunch in Fresno & Clovis? Here’s who qualifies & where to get meals this summer

Laura S. Diaz
·3 min read

School districts in the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area are offering free meals to all children and teenagers ages 1 to 18 this summer.

Students can get meals at any school offering them, even if they don’t attend that school or district, and they must eat their meals on-site.

Here are the times, dates and locations these three districts are offering meals:

Fresno Unified School District

There are 89 schools across the Fresno Unified School District offering lunches. Schools started distributing free meals this week and will continue to do so through July 28 with the exceptions of June 19, July 3 and July 4. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

No identification is required for children to receive meals, said district spokesperson Diana Diaz.

Contact the district’s nutrition team in advance at 559-457-6250 to request meals that accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies.

The full list of Fresno Unified schools offering lunches is found on their website.

Central Unified School District

There are six sites serving breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, across the Central Unified School District. Breakfast is served from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Dates vary by location:

  • Central High East Campus, 3535 N. Cornelia Ave.: June 12 through July 14

  • Teague Elementary, 4725 N. Polk Ave.: June 12 through July 14

  • McKinley Elementary, 4444 W. McKinley Ave.: June 12 through July 14

  • Central Learning Adult School (C.L.A.S.S.), 2698 N. Brawley Ave.: June 12 through July 14

  • Harvest Elementary, 6514 W. Gettysburg Ave.: June 12 through July 21

  • Biola Elementary School, 4885 N. Biola Ave.: June 12 through July 28

Gilbert Magallon, the district’s spokesperson, said registration is not required.

“The only requirements are that the student must be present to receive their meal and must eat it in the designated area,” Magallon said via email. “Small children must be accompanied by an adult.”

If a child has an allergy or dietary restriction, he said the district encourages families to request an accommodation by calling its Child Nutrition Department 24 hours in advance at 559-274-4700 (ext. 10108).

All sites will be closed June 19, July 3 and July 4. More details about summer programs and resources can be found on the district’s website.

Clovis Unified School District

Clovis Unified School District is offering meals at several of its schools, too.

Meals are available at elementary schools, Monday through Thursday, from June 20 to July 13. Breakfast is available from 8-8:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30-11 a.m. Participating elementary schools are:

  • Fancher Creek Elementary

  • Jefferson Elementary

  • Lincoln Elementary

  • Mountain View Elementary

  • Pinedale Elementary

  • Tarpey Elementary

  • Temperance Kutner Elementary

  • Weldon Elementary

Meals will also be available at the following schools, Monday through Thursday. Breakfast will be served 8:30-9 a.m. and lunch from 10:30-11 a.m.:

  • Clovis High School, 1055 Fowler Ave., Clovis: June 20 to July 27

  • Kastner Intermediate School, 7676 N. First St., Fresno: June 20 to July 27

  • Clovis Community Day Elementary School, 1715 David E. Cook Way, Clovis: June 20 to July 20

Schools won’t serve meals on June 19 and July 4. To request meals that meet a child’s dietary restrictions or allergies, families can call the Special Diets department at 559-327-9131, according to Kelly Avants, the district spokesperson. More details and specific locations can be found on the district’s website.