Once school is out, meals are on for local children — thanks to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Summer Food Program for Children begins Thursday, June 20, at four sites in Sequim, and Monday, June 24, in Port Angeles at five sites.
More sites open as the summer progresses at Sequim High School (July 8-26) and Roosevelt Elementary School (July 9-Aug. 1).
Children and teens 18 and younger can receive a free lunch on weekdays at the multiple sites and breakfast at the Sequim and Port Angeles Boys & Girls Clubs.
Last year, Sequim sites provided 16,269 meals and Port Angeles 8,839 over the summer.
Organizers at Carrie Blake Community Park said last year that smoky skies from Canadian forest fires deterred some families, but that on average 30-50 meals were distributed from under the park’s gazebo.
Sequim Food Bank continues to offer meals for children at Sequim sites on Fridays through its Weekend Meal Program. In 2018, more than 850 bags were distributed for children to continue eating meals over the weekend.
Club staff and volunteers run each site. To volunteer, contact Mary Budke, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula executive director, at 360-683-8095 or mbudke@bgc-op.org.
To support the Sequim Food Bank Weekend Meal Program, call 360-683-1205 or 360-461-6038.
Sequim sites
Sequim sites open weekdays from June 20-Aug. 29, except the Fourth of July.
• Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St., Breakfast: 8:30-10 a.m.; lunch: noon-1 p.m.
Lunch sites: noon-1 p.m.
• Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave. (ends Aug. 29)
• Elk Creek Apartments, 90 S. Rhodefer Road
• SeaBreeze Apartments, 525 McCurdy Road (ends Aug. 29)
• Sequim High School, 601 N. Sequim Ave. (noon-12:30 p.m. July 8-July 26)
Port Angeles sites
Port Angeles sites open weekdays from June 24-Aug. 29, except the Fourth of July.
• Port Angeles Boys & Girls Club, 2620 S. Francis St., Breakfast: 8:30-9 a.m.; lunch: noon-1 p.m.
Lunch sites: noon-1 p.m.
• Dream Park, 298-300 S. Race St.
• Shane Park, 613 G St.
• Evergreen Family Village, 2202 W. 16th St.
• Jefferson Elementary, 218 E. 12st St.
• Roosevelt Elementary School, 106 Monroe Road (11-11:30 a.m. July 9-Aug. 1).
Boys & Girls Club staff member Heidi O’Leary shows what a free meal entails through the club’s Summer Food Program for children 18 and under last summer. She said upwards of 50 children received free meals at Carrie Blake Community Park. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash
