East TN schools, organizations offering free summer meals for children

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - With the school year coming to an end, multiple school districts and organizations in East Tennessee are offering free meals for children.

Anderson County Schools - School Nutrition Program

Anderson County Schools will be distributing seven-day meal packs every Friday during June from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for children ages 2 through 18.

According to ACS, each meal will include seven breakfasts and seven lunches.

Meals can be picked up at Andersonville Elementary, Grand Oaks Elementary and Lake City Middle School.

Children do not have to be present at the distribution site for food pickup. All children are eligible and don’t have to be enrolled in ACS.

You can register on-site or online using the Summer Food Distribution Registration Form.

For more information, click here.

Blount County Schools Family Resource Center

The Blount County Schools Family Resource Center is offering free breakfast and lunch for everyone 18 years of age and younger.

The meals will be served Monday through Thursday from May 26 through May 29 and from June 1 through June 18. Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The meals will be offered at the following locations:

• Elementary Schools
  • Carpenters
  • Eagleton
  • Fairview
  • Friendsville
  • Lanier
  • Mary Blount
  • Montvale
  • Middle Settlements
  • Porter
  • Prospect
  • Rockford
  • Walland
• Middle and High Schools
  • Carpenters
  • Eagleton College and Career
  • Heritage Middle School
  • Heritage High School
  • Union Grove
  • William Blount Academy

Organizers said children from any school system are welcome and no ID or income requirements are needed.

Cumberland County Schools

Cumberland County Schools will be offering free breakfast and lunch for children 18 years of age and younger.

Meal pickup will take place at various locations from May 28 through Aug. 4.

You can find the entire meal pickup schedule here.

Loudon County Schools Nutrition Program

Loudon County Schools will be offering free meals to anyone 18 years of age and younger.

The meals will be served Monday through Friday from May 26 through June 26 at Loudon High School.

LCS said breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meals must be eaten on-site.

YMCA of East Tennessee Summer Food Program

YMCA of East Tennessee is offering grab-and-go meals to all families with children 18 years and younger.

According to organizers, each meal will include seven breakfasts and seven lunches.

The meals will be offered at the following locations:

• Mt. Olive Elementary
  • Every Monday from May 25 through Aug. 3
  • 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Central Point Baptist Church
  • Every Monday from May 25 through July 27
  • 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Big Ridge Elementary
  • Every Tuesday from May 26 through Aug. 4
  • 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Union County High School
  • Every Tuesday from May 26 through Aug. 4
  • 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Luttrell Elementary
  • Every Wednesday from May 27 through Aug. 3
  • 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Washburn School
  • Every Wednesday from May 27 through July 29
  • 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• East Knox Elementary
  • Every Thursday from May 28 through Aug. 6
  • 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Rutledge Elementary
  • Every Thursday from May 28 through July 30
  • 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Copper Ridge Elementary
  • Every Friday from May 29 through Aug. 7
  • 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Big Ridge State Park
  • Every Friday from May 29 through Aug. 7
  • 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

YMCA asks that all families pre-register for one location only.

You can pre-register by texting 865-973-4041, emailing food@ymcaetn.org or clicking here.

You can find more information here.

Additional Resource

The USDA offers a database to find summer meals near you. Each location is also labeled as “Eat On-Site” or “Meals To-Go.”

You can find the locater here.