PHOENIX — The start of summer can be a much-needed break for students and school staff, but, for many kids, finding a complete meal can be a real challenge.
Just because it’s summer break doesn’t mean the kitchen and cafeterias at Creighton Elementary District go unused. It’s exactly the opposite for Cafeteria Manager Alex Rios and his team.
By the way the kids flock to him, you’d think Rios was giving away ice cream.
“It’s not me, it’s the district that provides the service. I get fulfillment out of it myself, I think we have more coming,” said Rios.
Approximately, 90% of the students in Creighton Elementary District are on free and reduced lunch. So about five years ago, when the summer left cafeterias empty as many families struggle to eat, people like Erin Bronner, Child Nutrition Director, thought: "Let's go to them."
”We found it was a better way to reach our community. It’s difficult for kids to come here in the summer months. It’s hot for them to be walking out here. We go to them now,” Bronner said.
She said that one change allowed Creighton Elementary to go from giving away 10,000 meals in June and July, to 100,000 meals in that two-month span.
Creighton isn't the only district serving up meals during the summer months. Multiple Valley schools will be open this summer to serve meals to children 18 and younger.
See all summer meal locations around the state here.
Phoenix Union High School District
The Phoenix Union High School District is offering free breakfast and lunch to Valley youth this summer.
The district says 16 high schools will be open Monday through Thursday, May 30 to June 29, to serve children 18 and younger.
Breakfast will be served from 7:15 - 8:15 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
The locations are:
- Alhambra High School 3839 W. Camelback Road
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Betty Fairfax High School 8225 S. 59th Avenue
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Bostrom High School 3535 N. 27th Ave.
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 13 - Bioscience High School 512 E Pierce St.
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Carl Hayden High School 3333 W Roosevelt St.
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Phoenix Coding Academy 4525 N Central Avenue
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Cesar Chavez High School 3921 W Baseline Road
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - The Academies at South Mountain 6401 S 7th Street
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Maryvale High School 3415 N. 59th Avenue
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Trevor G Browne High School 7402 W. Catalina Dr.
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Franklin Police and Fire HS 1645 W. McDowell Rd.
Monday - Thursday, June 5 - June 29 - Metro Tech High School 1900 W. Thomas Road
Monday - Thursday, May 29 - June 28 - Camelback High School 4312 N 28th Street
Monday - Thursday, May 29 - June 28 - Central High School 4445 N Central Avenue
Monday - Thursday, June 5 - June 29 - North High School 1101 E. Thomas Road
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29 - Wilson College Prep 3005 East Fillmore Street
Monday - Thursday, May 30 - June 29
What to know:
- Each of these campuses will host Summer School.
- The food is prepared at each location in the school cafeteria.
- Participating community members can enjoy meals at designated areas on each campus.
Dysart Unified School District
The Dysart Unified School District is offering free breakfast and lunch to Valley youth this summer through its annual Summer Feeding Program.
Breakfast (from 8 to 9 a.m.) and lunch (from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) will be served Monday through Thursday in the cafeterias.
Locations are:
- El Mirage Elementary School, 13500 North El Mirage, AZ 85335
- Surprise Elementary School, 12907 W Greenway Rd., Surprise, AZ 85374.
Meals for adults over the age of 18 are $1.75 for breakfast and $3.50 for lunch.
Peoria Unified School District
Peoria Unified School District is offering breakfast and lunch for both students and adults this summer at its elementary schools.
Breakfast and lunch meals are free to any child, age 18 and under this summer. Adults aged 19 and older may purchase breakfast for $2 and lunch for $4.
Peoria Unified is also partnering with the Peoria Community Center (8335 W. Jefferson St., Peoria, AZ 85345) to offer snacks and dinner meals. Details on menus, locations of free meals and times that meals are served are on the district’s website.
Liberty Elementary School District No. 25
The Summer Meal Program begins on June 5 at two school campuses.
Students under the age of 18 may receive free breakfast at either location from 7:30 to 8 a.m., and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All meals must be consumed on-site.
- Liberty Elementary School: 19801 W. Fremont Dr. Buckeye, AZ 85623
- Blue Horizons Elementary School: 20070 W. Blue Horizons Parkway Buckeye, AZ 85326
Union Elementary School District
Union ESD will be providing breakfast and lunch to all children ages 18 years or younger throughout the month of June.
The program will run from Monday to Friday, June 5 through June 30, with breakfast served from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch served from 11 a.m. to noon.
Parents and adults are welcome to join their children for a nominal fee of $3 for breakfast and $5 for lunch, payable by cash or check. However, the district will no longer offer curbside meal packs or meals to-go, in accordance with the USDA guidelines. All meals must be consumed on-site, but leftovers may be taken home.
Location:
- Union Elementary School: 3834 S 91st Ave, Tolleson
