Summer is fast approaching, but school kitchens aren’t winding down.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Summer Food Service Program keeps vital meal services running through the summer for children of all ages.
Indianapolis is expected to have dozens of locations serving free meals this summer.
How does it work? The USDA partners with schools, parks, community centers and more to offer free meals to students from any school. There’s no income requirements to participate. Students must be 18 or younger to receive the meals.
Kids may eat at any Summer Food Service Program site, regardless of whether they attend the school or community program serving the meals.
Service times vary by location. Some offer just breakfast or lunch, and some offer both. At most locations, meals must be eaten on site, meaning you’ll have to make plans to travel to a participating school or community center during their hours of operation.
Some rural programs offer meals to go, and some providers get creative. Indianapolis Public Schools, Indy Parks and Wayne Township Schools, for example, run mobile meal programs where buses or vans deliver meals to local parks and apartment complexes.
A statewide map of participating summer food service program locations is available online.
Families can also call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE, or text “food” or “SFSP” to 914-342-7744 for assistance finding a program.
All times, dates and locations are accurate as of June 1, but could change throughout the summer. Check with a program directly to confirm their meal services are available.
While the Summer Food Service Program focuses on children, other types of food assistance are available. You can look up other programs near you by visiting the Indiana Emergency Food Resource Network’s website.
Indianapolis Public Schools 🔝
IPS will serve meals at several of its schools this summer. The district will also make mobile food delivery stops to three community locations.
School-based sites started serving meals on June 1. Mobile food delivery begins on June 8. All locations will offer meals Monday through Friday.
Meals will not be served on June 19 or July 3 in observance of Juneteenth and the Fourth of July. For more information on IPS’ summer meal service, visit the district’s website.
IPS’ school locations include:
- Washington Irving School 14
📍 1250 E. Market St. (Enter Door 6)
🍕 Lunch at 1-1:20 p.m. through July 24 - Frederick Douglass School 19
📍 2020 Dawson St. (Enter Door 9)
🍳 Breakfast at 9:30-9:45 a.m. through June 26
🍕 Lunch at 12:40-1 p.m. through July 24 - Theodore Potter School 74
📍 1601 E. 10th St. (Enter Door 3)
🍳 Breakfast at 9:30-9:45 a.m. through June 26
🍕 Lunch at 12:40-1 p.m. through June 26 - Carl Wilde School 79
📍 5002 W. 34th St. (Enter Door 11)
🍳 Breakfast at 9:30-9:45 a.m. through June 26
🍕 Lunch at 12:40-1 p.m. through June 26 - Anna Brochhausen School 88
📍 5801 E. 16th St. (Enter Door 7)
🍳 Breakfast at 9:30-9:45 a.m. through June 26
🍕 Lunch at 11:40 a.m. to noon through June 26 - Merle Sidener Academy 59
📍 2424 Kessler Blvd E. Drive (Enter Door 6)
🍳 Breakfast at 9:30-9:45 a.m. through June 26
🍕 Lunch at 12:40-1 p.m. through June 26
- Haughville Library Branch
📍 2121 W. Michigan St.
🍕 Lunch at 1:10-1:30 p.m. through July 24 - Martin Luther King Community Center
📍 40 W. 40th St.
🍳 Breakfast at 8:30-8:45 a.m. through July 24
🍕 Lunch at 11:30-11:50 a.m. through July 24 - Stratford Apartments Leasing Office
📍 3201 Watergate Road
🍕 Lunch at 12:20-12:40 p.m. through July 24
Indy Parks sites 🔝
Indy Parks also organizes a summer food program with four mobile units that stop at parks across Indy. Their program runs Monday through Friday, June 1 through late July.
Exact dates will vary and some sites may only be served two or three times a week. Indy Parks staff say families should check the free meals program website for updates. You can also call the Indy Parks Customer Service Center at 317-327-PARK for more information.
Four mobile units begin travel just before lunchtime and run through early evening, meaning you could pick up a lunch, late afternoon meal or early dinner.
Here’s where mobile units will be this summer:
Here’s where mobile units will be this summer:
Mobile Unit 1
📍Wes Montgomery Park, 3400 N. Hawthorne Lane
🍕 11-11:30 a.m.
📍Grassy Creek Park, 10510 E. 30th St.
🍕 Noon to 12:30 p.m.
📍Jake Greene Park, 1700 N. Franklin Road
🍕 1-1:30 p.m.
📍Bluff Park, 555 W. Hanna Ave.
🍕 3-3:30 p.m..
📍Bel Aire Park, 2901 S. Mooresville Road
🍕 4-4:30 p.m.
Mobile Unit 2
📍Laurelwood Apartments, 3346 Teakwood Drive
🍕11-11:30 a.m.
📍Frank & Judy O’Bannon Park, 1001 E. 16th St.
🍕Noon to 12:30 p.m.
📍Ellenberger Park, 5301 E. St. Clair St.
🍕1-1:30 p.m.
📍Brookside Pool, 3510 Brookside Parkway S. Drive
🍕2:30-3 p.m.
📍Commons Park, 2204 E. New York St.
🍕3:30-4 p.m.
📍Stanley Strader Pool, 2850 Bethel Ave.
🍕4:30-5 p.m.
Mobile Unit 3
📍Blackburn Terrace Apartments, 3091 Baltimore Ave.
🍕11-11:30 a.m.
📍Andrew Ramsey Park, 310 W. 42nd St.
🍕Noon to 12:30 p.m.
📍Tarkington Park, 45 W. 40th St.
🍕1-1:30 p.m.
📍Bertha Ross Park, 3700 Clifton St.
🍕2:30-3 p.m.
Mobile Unit 4
📍Eagle Branch Library, 3905 Moller Road
🍕11-11:30 a.m.
📍Riverside Adventure Park, 3502 N. White River Parkway Drive W.
🍕Noon to 12:45 p.m.
📍Gustafson Pool, 3110 Moller Road
🍕2:30-3 p.m.
📍Bowman Park, 3600 Auburn Road
🍕3:15-3:45 p.m.
📍Centennial & Groff Park, 2300 N. Centennial St.
🍕4-4:30 p.m.
Lawrence Township schools 🔝
Lawrence Township will provide meals in four schools as well as a few community locations.
Meals will be served Monday through Friday in all locations except for Fall Creek Valley Middle School. Food will be served there on Monday through Thursday.
The program will close on June 19 and July 4 in observance of Juneteenth and the Fourth of July.
Visit the Lawrence Township district website for more information.
Lawrence Township school sites include:
- Fall Creek Valley Middle School (Monday through Thursday)
📍 9701 E. 63rd St.
🍳 Breakfast at 8:45-9:45 a.m. June 8-25
🍕 Lunch at 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 8-25 - Winding Ridge Elementary School
📍 11825 E. 46th St.
🍳 Breakfast at 7:45-8:45 a.m. June 8-25
🍕 Lunch at 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 8-25 - Brook Park Elementary School
📍 5259 David St.
🍳 Breakfast at 7:45-8:45 a.m. June 8-25
🍕 Lunch at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 8-25 - Skiles Test Elementary School
📍 7001 Johnson Road
🍳 Breakfast at 7:45-8:45 a.m. June 8 to July 17
🍕 Lunch at 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. June 8 to July 17
Lawrence Township community locations include:
- Harrison Point Apartment Homes
📍9093 E. Bourbon St.
🍕 Lunch at 1-1:20 p.m. June 1 to July 17 - Maison Garden Apartment Homes
📍8808 Rue Madeleine
🍕 Lunch at 12:30-1 p.m. June 1 to July 17 - Maplewood Home Community
📍12451 Pendleton Pike
🍕 Lunch at 11-11:30 a.m. June 1 to July 17 - Oak Ridge Mobile Homes
📍9530 Pendleton Pike
🍕 Lunch at 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 1 to July 17 - Post Brook Apartment Homes
📍9265 E. 41st St.
🍕 Lunch at 1:15-1:45 p.m. June 1 to July 17 - Reserve at Franklin Glenn
📍8016 Louisville Drive
🍕 Lunch at 11-11:30 a.m. June 1 to July 17 - Spring Valley Homes
📍8820 Pendleton Pike
🍕 Lunch at 12:30-1:30 p.m. June 1 to July 17 - Theater at the Fort
📍8920 Otis Ave.
🍕 Lunch at 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 8 to July 17 - Benjamin Harrison YMCA
📍 5736 Lee Road
🍳 Breakfast at 8-8:40 a.m. June 1 to July 17
🍕 Lunch at noon to 12:45 p.m. June 1 to July 17
Warren Township schools 🔝
Warren Township schools will serve meals from two locations this summer.
Both sites will run Monday through Friday from June 1 to July 17. Food service will not be provided on June 19 and July 3 in observance of Juneteenth and the Fourth of July.
Families can visit the Warren Township schools website for a look at this summer’s menu.
Warren Township locations include:
- Stonybrook Middle School
📍 11300 Stony Brook Drive
🍕 Lunch at noon to 1 p.m. - Moorhead Community Resource Center
📍 8400 E. 10th St.
🍳 Breakfast at 7:30-8:30 a.m.
🍕 Lunch at noon to 1 p.m.
Wayne Township schools sites 🔝
Wayne Township schools will provide meals to students Monday through Friday from June 8 to July 17 with the exception of three locations.
Maplewood, North Wayne and Westlake elementaries will end early on June 26. Across the district, meals will not be served on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
The Wayne Township school district offers both mobile delivery services to several neighborhood apartment complexes and community partners, as well as in-school services.
The district offers only lunch at its locations. Visit Wayne Township’s website for a look at this summer’s menu.
Mobile delivery locations include:
- 10 West Apartments
📍 7855 Cimarron Trail
🍕 1:10-1:30 p.m. - Adventure Play Park
📍 2400 N. Girls School Road
🍕 12:45-1:15 p.m. - Astoria Park Apartments
📍 3640 Beluga Lane
🍕 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - The Boardwalk at Westlake Apartments
📍 6000 WestLake Drive
🍕 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Boys and Girls Club
📍 5228 W. Minnesota St.
🍕 Noon to 1 p.m. - Carriage House West
📍 1301 N. Whitcomb Ave.
🍕 11-11:30 a.m. - Chapel Hill Apartments
📍 7452 Bentley Drive
🍕 10:45-11:15 a.m. - Cloverleaf Apartments
📍 835 Cloverleaf Terrace
🍕 12:55-1:25 p.m. - Covington Apartments
📍 115 S. High School Road
🍕 10:45-11:15 a.m. - Heather Ridge Apartments
📍 3245 Heather Ridge Drive
🍕 11-11:30 a.m. - Mariners Village Apartments
📍 7135 Islander Drive
🍕 12:35 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. - Mount Olive United Methodist Church
📍 1449 S. High School Road
🍕 12:15-12:35 p.m. - Pondarosa
📍 3559 Cossell Road
🍕 12:50-1:15 p.m. - Skyway mobile homes
📍 2952 Skyline Drive
🍕 12:30-1 p.m. - Stout Field Park
📍 3820 W. Bradbury Ave.
🍕 11-11:45 a.m. - The Hills Apartments
📍 5515 Pleasant Hill Circle
🍕 12:30-1 p.m. - The Park at Greenhill
📍 59 Port O Call Drive
🍕 11-11:30 a.m. - Wayne Branch library
📍 198 S. Girls School Road
🍕 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - West Glen Village
📍 1207 Rushmore Blvd. East
🍕 12:30-1 p.m. - Windsor Park Apartments
📍 6764 Lambert St.
🍕 11:30 a.m. to noon
Wayne Township school locations include:
- Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center
📍 1150 N. Girls School Road
🍕 11:30 a.m. to noon - Ben Davis University High School
📍 1155 S. High School Road
🍕 11:30 a.m. to noon - Bridgeport Elementary
📍 9035 W. Morris St.
🍕 11:30 a.m. to noon - Maplewood Elementary
📍 1643 Dunlap Ave.
🍕 11:15-11:45 a.m. - North Wayne Elementary
📍 6950 W. 34th St.
🍕 11:15-11:45 a.m. - Rhoades Elementary
📍 502 S. Auburn St.
🍕 11:30 a.m. to noon - Westlake Elementary
📍 271 N. Sigsbee St.
🍕 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Decatur Township schools
Decatur Township will serve meals in several community locations this summer.
Meals will be served Monday through Friday from June 1 to July 24. Distribution will be closed on June 19 and July 3 in observance of Juneteenth and the Fourth of July.
Visit the school district’s website for summer meal menus.
Decatur Township locations include:
- Horizon Apartments
📍 4955 Red Horizon Blvd.
🍕 11-11:30 a.m. - Valleybrook Park
📍 4620 S. High School Road
🍕 Noon to 12:30 p.m. - Bluffs at River Run
📍 5400 Powder River Court
🍕 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Carson Park
📍 5400 S. High School Road
🍕 11-11:45 a.m. - Troy Manor
📍4562 W. Perry St.
🍕 10:45-11:30 a.m. - River Run Playground
📍5200 Long River Lane
🍕 12:30-1 p.m. - Heartland Crossing Pool
📍8914 Belle Union Drive
🍕 12:45-1:15 p.m. - Lynhurst Park
📍3215 Joey Way
🍕 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Franklin Township schools
Franklin Township Community School Corp. will provide free meals to kids and teens age 18 and under. Adults can purchase a meal for $4.
Franklin Township school sites will run Monday through Friday from June 2 to July 17. Service will be closed June 19 and July 3 in observance of Juneteenth and the Fourth of July.
A summer meal service menu can be found on the district’s website.
Franklin Township locations include:
- Arlington Elementary
📍5814 S. Arlington Ave.
🍕Noon to 12:30 p.m. - Edgewood Intermediate
📍7620 E. Edgewood Ave.
🍕Noon to 12:30 p.m. - Adams Elementary
📍7341 E. Stop 11 Road
🍕Noon to 12:30 p.m. - Franklin Central High School
📍6215 S. Franklin Road
🍕11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
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Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
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