YAKIMA -- School officials say with inflation and the poverty level in our county, free meals are a huge need for our community.
However, because parents can no longer take meals to go, or get them delivered, it's making it harder for kids in need to eat.
"Many schools, and union gap was one of them, where they served more meals during COVID than the normal school year. And what that showed us was there's a huge need in the community," Rene Suruda, district manager for Sodexo food distribution, said.
With COVID slowing down, there are some new hurdles that the schools are dealing with that's making it harder for kids in need to not go hungry.
"So, we don't have that flexibility to provide grab and go meals, we don't have the flexibility to deliver meals or have parents come and take meals to their kids, multiple meals, etc. those have all - all the waivers are no longer available to us," Toppenish Food Services Director, Nora Flores, said.
On top of that, schools are struggling with food shortages and may have to switch up their meal menus from time to time.
"I believe last week was the first time that we were able to access peanut butter and jelly sandwiches so that was good," Flores said.
She says these programs help families in the community a lot. Especially now, with how high the prices of groceries have gone up.
"Families who have more than one child, just to feed one is a lot, but I can't even imagine we have a lot of families that have you know 3 to 4 and up to you know 6, 7 children at home," Flores said.
Flores says any kids 1 to 18 can get a meal, and they don't have to be a student in the district.
Families traveling through can stop by to get their kids food during, breakfast or lunch hours too.
"We will serve any child that comes through that door," Flores said.
Most free meal locations will be serving breakfast and lunch for kids on Monday through Friday.
Here is a list of the free summer meal programs around the county for 2022:
Yakima free meals times, dates and locations can be found here.
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Grandview free meal times, dates and locations can be found here.
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Granger free meal times, dates and locations can be found here.
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Toppenish free meal times, dates and locations can be found here.
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Wapato free meals times, dates and locations can be found here.
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Zillah free meals times, dates and locations can be found here.
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Mabton school district is serving breakfast from 8:00AM - 8:30AM and Lunch from 11:15AM - 12:00PM.
-Artz-Fox Elementary: June 21st - July 29th (Closed July 4th)
-Mabton Jr/Sr High School: June 21st - July 22th (Closed July 4th)
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Selah school district is serving breakfast from 8:15AM - 8:45AM and lunch 12PM - 12:30PM
John Campbell Primary: July 11th-August 4th
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Sunnyside school district is serving lunch only from 11:30AM - 12:30PM
-Central Park, 559 S. 4th St.
-Sunnyside Community Center, 1521 S. 1st St.
SSD is also serving breakfast and lunch at these locations from 7:30AM-8:30AM and 11:30AM - 12:30PM (June 20th-August 12th)
-Washington Elementary School
-Harrison Middle School
-Pioneer Elementary School
-Sierra Vista Middle School
-Sunnyside High School