Free Summer Meal Sites Available for North Iowa Children and Teens

MASON CITY, Iowa — Families across North Iowa have several options to find free meals and snacks for children and teens this summer through federally funded summer nutrition programs operating across Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Education announced that more than 530 sites statewide are serving free, nutritious meals and snacks through the Seamless Summer Option and Summer Food Service Program, known together as SUN Meals. The programs are open to all children ages 18 and younger.

Meal sites are located in a variety of convenient places, including schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries and camps. Depending on the location, sites may offer meals to be eaten on-site or meals and snacks to go. Meals to go are available only at eligible rural locations.

Families can search for nearby meal locations through the USDA/Food and Nutrition Service Summer Meals Site Finder at www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder. The online site finder provides location information, operating dates, meal times and service details for participating summer meal sites.

North Iowa meal locations listed through the USDA/FNS site finder and local school information include:

Cerro Gordo County

John Adams Middle School
29 S. Illinois Ave., Mason City
Meals are scheduled from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, June 1 through Aug. 14. No meals will be served July 3.

Lincoln Intermediate School
1625 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City
Meals are scheduled from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, June 1 through Aug. 14. No meals will be served July 3.

YMCA
1840 S. Monroe Ave., Mason City
Meals are scheduled from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, June 1 through Aug. 14. No meals will be served July 3.

Winnebago County

North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center
111 3rd Ave. NE, Buffalo Center
Sponsored by North Iowa Community School District. Meals will be served on-site Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from July 7 through July 30. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 9 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 641-562-2525.

Forest City Elementary School
1405 West I St., Forest City
Sponsored by Forest City Community School District. A seven-day meal pack of breakfast and lunch will be provided on Wednesdays from June 24 through July 29. Pickup will be available from 3 to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 641-585-2324.

Worth County

Central Springs High School
105 S. East St., Manly
Sponsored by Central Springs Community School District. Meals will be available Mondays through Thursdays from June 1 through June 25. A grab-and-go breakfast and lunch will be served Monday through Wednesday, with a two-day meal pack provided on Thursdays. Breakfast will be available from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m., and lunch will be available from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. For more information, call 641-454-2208.

First Lutheran Church
309 9th St. N, Northwood
Sponsored by Northwood-Kensett Community School District. Lunch will be served Monday through Friday from June 1 through July 10. Lunch will be available from 11 to 11:45 a.m. For more information, call 641-324-2142.

Mitchell County

Lincoln Elementary School
515 Chase St., Osage
Sponsored by Osage Community School District. Meals will be served Monday through Friday from June 1 through Aug. 14. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 8:30 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, call 641-732-5381.

Wright County

Richard O. Jacobson Elementary School
1004 7th St. NE, Belmond
Sponsored by Belmond-Klemme Community School District. A seven-day meal pack of breakfast and lunch will be provided on Mondays from June 8 through Aug. 10. Pickup will be available from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 641-444-4300.

Floyd County

Rockford Junior-Senior High School
1460 210th St., Rockford
Sponsored by Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School District. Meals will be served Monday through Friday from May 26 through July 31. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 9 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 641-756-3610.

Families are encouraged to check the USDA/FNS Summer Meals Site Finder before visiting a site, as dates, times and meal service options may vary or change during the summer.

Families can also locate meal sites by calling 2-1-1, calling 1-866-3-HUNGRY for assistance in English, calling 1-877-8-HAMBRE for assistance in Spanish, or texting “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744.

The summer meal programs are intended to help maintain children’s access to healthy food during the months when school is not in session. State officials said the programs are especially important for children and teens who rely on school meals during the academic year.

“For nearly 60 years, Iowa has provided access to nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months for kids in need,” said Kala Shipley, chief of the Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services. “Children and teens who rely on school meals during the school year will continue to have access to meals, snacks and other partner resources this summer, ensuring they are nourished, supported and poised for success.”

SUN Meals also work alongside SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, which is managed by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. SUN Bucks provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child during the summer months. Eligible children may receive both SUN Bucks and SUN Meals or SUN Meals To-Go.

More information and additional summer meal locations are available through the USDA/FNS Summer Meals Site Finder at www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder.