Have a hungry kid? Here's where to get free meals for children this summer in Bloomington

Carol Kugler, The Herald-Times
·3 min read

Free meals for youth up to age 18 will be served at 13 sites in Bloomington this summer.

Community Kitchen and Monroe County Community School Corp. are collaborating to ensure there are free healthy meals available at 13 locations.

The summer food program will begin May 22 and run through Aug. 1 for Community Kitchen locations. MCCSC will have two school cafeterias serving breakfast and lunch; exact dates and times are included below.

This is the 27th year that Community Kitchen has operated a summer food service program, according to Tim Clougher, assistant director. For the first couple of years, Community Kitchen provided breakfast but switched to offering lunches in order to reach more kids at a time when they were awake. The lunches also allowed for more food components, Clougher explained. Lunches have five items: milk, whole grain, protein, fruit and vegetable.

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The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Indiana Department of Education. Community Kitchen is reimbursed for meals that are eaten where officials can observe them.

However, some youth take meals home to eat during inclement weather and because their parents request they eat at home. "We depend on support from the community to provide those meals," Clougher said in an email.

Monroe County Community School Corp. has provided summer feeding programs for students for more than 20 years, according to Matt Tomrell, director of food service at MCCSC.

Kids and their families share a meal in the shade as part of the summer food service program a couple years ago in Bloomington. The program will be offered again this summer and begins May 22.
Kids and their families share a meal in the shade as part of the summer food service program a couple years ago in Bloomington. The program will be offered again this summer and begins May 22.

All meals are served anonymously to kids with no questions asked.

Community Kitchen will distribute free lunch to kids (18 and younger) at the following locations and times:

Route 1 (Monday-Friday)

  • Dorothy Apartments: 10:30-10:45 a.m. (near the office)

  • Southcrest Estates: 10:55-11:10 a.m. (near mailboxes)

  • Henderson Court Apartments: 11:20-11:35 a.m. (at playground)

  • Walnut Woods: 11:40-11:55 a.m. (across from the playground)

  • Trailview: 12:10-12:25 p.m. (near circle)

  • The Reserve at Chandler’s Glen: 12:35-12:50 p.m. (at picnic shelter)

  • Arlington Valley Mobile Home Park: 12:55-1:10 p.m. (behind the office)

Route 2 (Monday–Friday)

  • Crestmont Community (Illinois Court): 10:30-11 a.m. (at playground)

  • Highland Park Elementary: 11:15-11:45 a.m. (at playground)

  • Limestone Crossing: Noon to 12:30 p.m. (at playground)

  • Country View Apartments: 12:45-1:15 p.m. (at playground)

MCCSC will serve free breakfast and lunch to kids (18 and younger) at the following locations:

Templeton Elementary cafeteria (Monday–Thursday)

Enter at Door 13 for breakfast and lunch, provided June 5-July 13. (Closed Monday, June 19, and Tuesday, July 4.) Because of state regulations, meals must be consumed on-site.

  • Breakfast: 9:15-9:45 a.m.

  • Lunch: 12:10-12:45 p.m.

Fairview Elementary Cafeteria (Monda –Thursday)

Enter at Door 12 for breakfast and lunch, provided June 5-29. (Closed Monday, June 19.) Because of state regulations, meals must be consumed on-site.

  • Breakfast: 9:15-9:45 a.m.

  • Lunch: 1:45-2:15 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Free meals for kids available this summer in 13 Bloomington locations