Hattie Harris brought her four children out Thursday to eat a free lunch and learn about a police motorcycle at Harris Elementary School in Mesa.
Harris plans to come to the Gilbert district school every weekday through the summer to feed her kids for free. The Mesa mom estimates a savings of at least $500.
“They’re always hungry, so this helps,” Harris said. “For them to be able to get a good meal for free, I’m very grateful for it.”
The Gilbert Unified School District, along with Chandler, Mesa and Apache Junction unified school districts, are offering free breakfasts and lunches for children 18 and younger at various locations throughout the East Valley. Children do not have to attend that school. Adults can also purchase a meal for a low price.
The free meals come at no cost to the school districts because the schools are reimbursed for the thousands of meals served through the Summer Food Service Program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said Debbie McCarron, Gilbert’s food service director.
“We offer kid-friendly, nutritiously balanced meals that meet all the federal guidelines,” McCarron said. “It’s fun for the kids ... it really helps (families) out.”
With the tough economy, McCarron expects even more families to come out this summer. Gilbert’s free summer meal program began on Tuesday and runs through Aug. 7, depending on the site. Staff members are already serving double the number of meals from last year, McCarron said.
Gilbert offered the free meals last year at three schools, and this year expanded it to 10 sites, adding the free meals at schools with summer programs, McCarron said. Last year, Gilbert served 44,019 meals.
Marsha Bueler of Mesa brought her two children and four young friends to eat lunch Thursday at Harris. The Mesa mom said the kids think it’s “a lot of fun” to eat in the cafeteria, and it makes summertime “easier.”
“Free is always good,” Bueler said. “I think it’s a nice program. It seems to draw out lots of families. And they’re really excited about the police motorcycle.”
Along with the free meals, Gilbert is also hosting a Lunch and Learn series at Harris Elementary, with various activities throughout the summer to entice more families to come out. The other districts have special events planned as well.
On Thursday, Rick Osborn, a traffic officer with the Gilbert Police Department, showed off his BMW police motorcycle to a crowd of curious children and moms at Harris Elementary, talked about the importance of wearing a helmet, and explained the various items in his bulletproof-vest pockets.
Chandler Unified School District will offer free breakfast and lunch from June 8 to July 17 at 10 sites. New this year, Chandler will offer free snacks and dinner at Folley Pool and free breakfast at Arrowhead Pool.
Chandler has two less school sites offering free meals than last summer. Two of the schools weren’t offering summer programs, and it wasn’t cost effective to offer the free meals, said Tristine Bogle, Chandler’s food and nutrition supervisor.
“We’re offering fresh pizza this year (made by Chandler’s food services department),” Bogle said. “We’re hoping to feed a lot of kids.”
Last year, Chandler served 12,059 lunches, 6,951 breakfasts and 1,349 snacks, Bogle said.
The Mesa district offers the largest number of sites, and will serve meals at 27 schools, mainly from June 1-25. The district is offering more sites than last summer because more schools are offering summer programs, said Loretta Zullo, Mesa’s food and nutrition director.
“There’s such a great need in our community,” Zullo said. “Mesa Public Schools is a 50 percent (free and reduced-price lunch) district. If we didn’t have this, (the children) may not get three balanced meals, especially if their parents work.”
Last year, Mesa served 6,000 meals a day, Zullo said.
The Apache Junction Unified School District is offering free lunch June 1 to July 17 at Desert Shadows Middle School. Last year, the district offered the meals at three schools, but had to cut the sites to save costs, said district spokeswoman Betty Swanson.
Apache Junction served 9,513 free lunches last summer, Swanson said.
To qualify for the federal program, a school has to have 50 percent or greater who qualify for free and reduced-price meals. Queen Creek and Higley unified school districts are not able to offer the summer programs because they don’t qualify.
“We would have do it at no cost and lose money, or charge for it,” said Carol Weekly, Queen Creek’s director of food services.
However, Queen Creek does offer a free summer meal program for migrant students at Desert Mountain Elementary School, which is also through a federal program, Weekly said.
APACHE JUNCTION UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
(480) 982-1110, Ext. 2014
Adults with kids can buy lunch for $2.50.
Desert Shadows Middle School
801 W. Southern Ave., Apache Junction
June 1 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
(480) 812-7240
Adults can buy breakfast for $2, lunch for $3 and a snack for 75 cents.
Bologna Elementary School
1625 E. Frye Road, Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Erie Elementary School
1150 W. Erie St., Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Galveston Elementary School
661 E. Galveston St., Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Hartford Elementary School
700 N. Hartford St., Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Knox Elementary School
700 W. Orchid Lane, Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
San Marcos Elementary School
451 W. Frye Road, Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Arrowhead Pool
1475 W. Erie St., Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Folley Pool
600 E. Fairview Drive, Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Snack: 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday
Dinner: 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday
Chandler Boys and Girls Club
300 E. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Snack: 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
ICAN
201 S. Washington St., Chandler
June 8 to July 17
Monday to Friday
Lunch: 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Snack: 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
GILBERT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
(480) 497-3412
Adults can buy breakfast for $2 and lunch for $2.75.
Finley Farms Elementary School
375 S. Columbus Drive, Gilbert
May 27 to June 25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Lunch: noon to 1 p.m.
Gilbert Junior High School
1016 N. Burk St., Gilbert
May 26 to July 31
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Harris Elementary School
1820 S. Harris Drive, Mesa
May 26 to July 31
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Highland High School
4301 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert
June 2 to June 25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 6:45 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to noon
Highland Junior High School
6915 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert
May 26 to July 31
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Mesquite Elementary School
1000 E. Mesquite Road, Gilbert
May 26 to July 31
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Lunch: noon to 12:30 p.m.
Mesquite Junior High School
130 W. Mesquite St., Gilbert
May 26 to Aug. 7
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Oak Tree Elementary School
505 W. Houston Ave., Gilbert
June 1-25
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Lunch: noon to 1 p.m.
South Valley Junior High School
034 S. Lindsay Road, Gilbert
Now through July 31
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Gilbert Boys and Girls Club
44 N. Oak St., Gilbert
Now through Aug. 7
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
(480) 472-0900
Adults can buy breakfast for $1.25 and lunch for $3.
Brinton Elementary School
11455 E. Sunland Ave., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Eisenhower Elementary School
848 N. Mesa Drive, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Emerson Elementary School
415 N. Westwood, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Field Elementary School
2325 E. Adobe St., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Guerrero Elementary School
463 S. Alma School Road, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Hawthorne Elementary School
630 N. Hunt Drive, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Jordan Elementary School
3320 N. Carriage Lane, Chandler
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lehi Elementary School
2555 N. Stapley Drive, Mesa
Now through June 26
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lindbergh Elementary School
930 S. Lazona Drive, Mesa
June 1 to July 30
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Longfellow Elementary School
345 S. Hall, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lowell Elementary School
920 E. Broadway Road, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Madison Elementary School
849 S. Sunnyvale, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Porter Elementary School
1350 S. Lindsay Road, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Redbird Elementary School
1020 S. Extension Road, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Robson Elementary School
2122 E. Pueblo Ave., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Roosevelt Elementary School
828 S. Valencia, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Washington Elementary School
2260 S. Isabella Ave., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Webster Elementary School
202 N. Sycamore, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Whitman Elementary School
1829 N. Grand Ave., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Whittier Elementary School
733 N. Longmore, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Carson Junior High School
525 N. Westwood St., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kino Junior High School
848 N. Horne, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mesa High School
1630 E. Southern Ave., Mesa
June 1 to July 10
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mesa Junior High School
828 E. Broadway Road, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Powell Junior High School
855 W. Eighth St., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Rhodes Junior High School
1860 S. Longmore, Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Taylor Junior High School
705 S. 32nd St., Mesa
June 1-25
Monday to Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
