Manchester schools offering free summer meals for children

Paul Feely, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
·3 min read

Jul. 7—The Manchester School District is taking part in the USDA's SUN Meals program, offering breakfast and lunch at several schools around the city beginning Monday.

Under the program, children 18 and under can get free meals at specific schools Monday through Friday through Aug. 2.

No registration or sign-up is required. Children simply show up during times when meals are offered. Tables will be set up outside each of the sites.

Sites include Bakersville, Jewett Street, Northwest and Webster elementary schools, and Central, Memorial and West high schools.

Combined with Southern New Hampshire Service's Summer Meals Program, 17 locations exist where students can access free summer meals.

"When school is out for the summer, many children lose access to the free, nutritious meals they need to grow healthy and strong," Manchester Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiel Gillis said in a statement. "Programs such as this help bridge the gap for children in our community, filling a critical need. We are thankful to the USDA, our District School Food and Nutrition Services department and Southern New Hampshire Services for making this possible."

Though students are out for summer recess, the Manchester School District kicks off most of its summer programming Monday, offering meals for children taking part in many of the programs.

"Our mission is to ensure that all students who need it can receive nutritious meals, so they can focus on learning," Jim Connors, director of School Food and Nutrition Services for city schools. "Our team has worked hard to get this up and running alongside our summer learning programs, and we are excited to take advantage of this opportunity."

A full list of district meal sites and times can be found below, as well as a list of Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS) meal sites.

District sites will offer meals through Aug. 2, unless otherwise noted. SNHS sites will offer meals through the end of August.

DISTRICT SUN MEALS SITES

Bakersville Elementary School

20 Elm St. (playground)

Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Jewett Street Elementary School

130 S. Jewett St.

Breakfast: 8:30-9:30 a.m. (Monday-Thursday only)

Northwest Elementary School

300 Youville St.

Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Parker-Varney Elementary School

223 James A Pollock Drive

Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Webster Elementary School

2519 Elm St.

Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Central High School

535 Beech St.

Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Memorial High School

One Crusader Way

Breakfast: 8:10-9:10 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

West High School (Meals available through Aug. 16)

9 Notre Dame Ave.

Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11 a.m.-noon

SNHS MEAL SITES

Beech Hill Apartments

120 Beech Hill Ave.

Lunch: 2:15-3 p.m.

Center Park

22 Beech Hill Drive

Breakfast: 10:15-10:45 a.m.

Elmwood Apartments

85 Trahan St.

Breakfast: 9:15-10 a.m.

Lunch: 11:15-12:15 p.m.

Families in Transition

161 South Beech St.

Lunch: 11 a.m.-noon

Sheehan-Basquil Splash Pad

297 Maple St.

Lunch: 1-2 p.m.

Dupont Splash Pad

249 Mason St.

Lunch: 1-2 p.m.

WIC Office

40 Pine St.

Breakfast: 9-10 a.m.

Lunch: 1-3 p.m.

MPAL (through Aug. 16)

409 Beech St.

Breakfast: 9-10 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Beech Street School

275 Beech St.

Dinner: 3:30-4 p.m.

Kelly Falls Apartments

463 Kimball St.

Dinner: 2:15-3:15 p.m.