Thurston Co. free summer meals for kids begin next week. Here’s where to go
Anyone 18 or younger will be able to access free summer meals beginning Monday, June 22, in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater.
Through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, local school districts provide drop-in breakfast, lunch and snacks to anyone under the age of 18 – no school ID required.
Lacey’s North Thurston Public Schools serves over 11,000 meals per day during the school year. When school gets out, some families are left in crisis.
“When school ends and we’re no longer offering school breakfast and school lunch, that leaves a gap, usually through the end of June through the beginning of September,” Alicia Neal, NTPS food & nutrition director, said. “That’s almost two and a half months where students wouldn’t have access if it wasn’t for these summer meal programs.”
According to Neal, NTPS served around 400 breakfast and lunch meals per day in July 2025, along with 100 snacks per day.
“The best part of my job in general is actually when we go out to the sites, and we see the difference it makes,” Neal said. “If it’s one meal that takes a little bit of the burden off the family, that’s pretty great.”
In Olympia, free summer meals will be available on weekdays from June 22 through Aug. 14, excluding breakfast on July 3. Locals can grab a meal from noon to 12:30 p.m. at this location: Garfield Elementary School at 325 Plymouth St.
In Lacey, NTPS offers free meals to be eaten on-site at these locations:
- Lydia Hawk Elementary, 7600 Fifth Ave., weekdays June 22 to Aug. 14 (excluding July 3).
- Mountain View Elementary, 1900 College St., will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon, and snacks from 3:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m weekdays, June 22 to Aug. 14. (excluding July 3).
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County, 1105 Tracey Lane, will offer lunch from noon to 12:20 p.m weekdays, June 22 to Aug. 14. (excluding July 3).
- Timberline High School, 6120 Mullen Rd., will serve breakfast from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, July 6 to Aug. 11.
- Lacey Elementary at 1800 Homann Drive will offer lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, from July 14 to July 30.
In Tumwater, free summer meals will be available at these locations:
- Tumwater High School, 700 Israel Rd., will serve lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. weekdays, June 22 to Aug. 14.
- New Market Skills Center Campus, 7299 New Market St. will offer meals from 11:15 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. weekdays, June 15 to July 23.
- Peter G. Schmidt, 237 Dennis St. will serve lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. weekdays, June 15 to Aug. 14.
Residents can text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 to receive a message with nearby summer meal locations, or can enter their address at USDA’s site finder. USDA’s Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer also provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible school-aged child during summer months. The Thurston County Food Bank offers food assistance year round,