Free Student Meals Programs start in Sequim, PA

By Matthew Nash • June 18, 2025 3:30 am
Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula Carrie Blake Community Park, pictured last summer, returns as a Summer Meal Program destination through the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula and the Department of Agriculture. Meals are offered to children ages 1-18 from noon-12:30 p.m. in the park on weekdays, except July 4, through Aug. 27.
Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula Carrie Blake Community Park, pictured last summer, returns as a Summer Meal Program destination through the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula and the Department of Agriculture. Meals are offered to children ages 1-18 from noon-12:30 p.m. in the park on weekdays, except July 4, through Aug. 27.

Following their slogan “when school is out, we’re in,” the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula continue to apply that mentality to lunches.

The Summer Meals Program launches this week, officially running in Sequim and Port Angeles June 16-Aug. 27 on weekdays, except on the Fourth of July.

Made largely available through a Department of Agriculture grant, the Boys & Girls Clubs offer sack lunches for free to children ages 1-18 at 11 locations between the two cities.

Chief Development Officer Janet Gray with the clubs said the USDA reimburses them a certain amount per meal, up to two meals per day.

She said afternoon snacks and dinners for teens after 6 p.m. are paid for by the clubs as they are open 10 hours on weekdays during the summer.

Last summer, the Port Angeles club served 28,806 meals and 13,707 snacks, Gray said, and the Sequim club provided 40,538 meals and 24,206 snacks.

Below are locations and times free meals are served, with service dates and times subject to change.

Sequim

Weekdays, except July 4 and as noted.

• Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St.; breakfast, 8:30 a.m.-9:15 a.m.; lunch, noon-1 p.m.

• Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.; noon-12:30 p.m.

• Elk Creek Apartments, 90 S. Rhodefer Road; 12:40- 1 p.m.

• Greywolf Elementary, 171 Carlsborg Road; 11:30-11:45 a.m. Tuesdays/Thursdays

• Mountain View Court Apartments, 303 S. Fifth St.; 1:10—1:25 p.m.

• SeaBreeze Apartments, 525 McCurdy Road; 1:35- 1:50 p.m.

Port Angeles

Weekdays, except July 4.

• Port Angeles Boys & Girls Club, 2301 S. Francis St.; breakfast, 9-9:30 a.m.; lunch, noon-1 p.m.

• Dream Park (Erickson Park), 298-300 S. Race St.; noon-12:30 p.m.

• Evergreen Family Village, 2203 W. 18th St.; lunch 1:25-1:55 p.m.

• Jefferson Elementary, 218 E. 12th St.; lunch 11:30- 11:45 a.m.

• Shane Park, 613 G. St.; lunch 12:45-1:15 p.m.

Organizers note that due to a shift in operations and scheduling, volunteers are not needed for the food program.

Additional food options

• Sequim families and adults can access Sequim Food Bank, 144. W. Alder St., from 1-4 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m.-noon on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call the Sequim Food Bank at 360-683-1205 or visit sequimfoodbank.org.

• Port Angeles families and adults can access the Port Angeles Food Bank, 632 N. Oakridge Dr., from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call the Port Angeles Food Bank at 360-452-8568 or visit portangelesfood bank.org.

For more about the clubs and Summer Meals Program, call 360-683-8095 or visit bgc-op.org.

Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula/ Sequim Boys & Girls Club member John Gigstead enjoys a meal at the club last summer. The club’s Summer Meals Program continues at Sequim and Port Angeles locations all summer. The Sequim club hosts breakfast on weekdays (except July 4) from 8:30-9:15 a.m. and lunch from noon-1 p.m.

Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula/ Sequim Boys & Girls Club member John Gigstead enjoys a meal at the club last summer. The club’s Summer Meals Program continues at Sequim and Port Angeles locations all summer. The Sequim club hosts breakfast on weekdays (except July 4) from 8:30-9:15 a.m. and lunch from noon-1 p.m.