Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) will be providing free summer meals to children 18 years old and younger at roughly 70 sites, including schools and community locations, beginning June 8.  

Most sites will start serving meals on Monday, June 8, with several continuing through Friday, July 24, according to an ACPS press release. The dates and times that meals will be served vary by location. More information is available at https://alachuaschools.net/summermeals2026 or by calling 352-955-7539. 

Funded by the federal government, the release said the Summer Meals Program is open to any child regardless of family income.  

“Children do not have to be enrolled at a particular school or program to receive meals, and they did not have to be qualified for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year,” the release said.  

The Summer Meals Program will provide nutritionally balanced meals to children during summer vacation when school breakfasts and lunches are not available. Cereal, baby formula and food are also available, but families should call the ACPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) office two days ahead of time to make arrangements.  

Meals can be eaten on-site at most locations, the release said. However, there will also be 12 “grad and go” meal pickup sites located in Archer, Alachua, Waldo, East Gainesville, Hawthorne, Newberry, High Springs and at the School Board of Alachua County’s (SBAC) Sivia Center (late-day pickup option).  

At these locations, families can pick up food kits once a week (June 8 through Monday, July 20) to cover seven days’ worth of meals. The release states that the mobile sites are the only locations where families can pick up meals to prepare at home.  

“Families can take their children to the site that is most convenient for them,” said Jamie Dicks, director of ACPS’s Food and Nutrition Services department, in the release. “They just show up during the serving or pickup times and take advantage of nutritious meals, with no registration required.”