Free Meals for Kids and Teens All Summer at the West Suburban YMCA

Jul 06, 2021

West Suburban YMCA participates in Summer Eats, providing free lunch & snack to any child age 18 and under

The West Suburban YMCA in Newton is a meal site for Summer Eats, Massachusetts' summer food service program. The federally funded nutrition program provides free, healthy meals to all children ages 18 and under when school is not in session.

In partnership with the Metrowest YMCA, the West Suburban YMCA will provide grab-and-go meals Monday through Friday from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm (Lunch) and 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm (Snack). Meals can be picked up inside at the Y's Welcome Center. No registration, I.D., or membership is required.

• Who: Any child or teen ages 18 and under
• What: Free, nutritious summer meals
• Where: West Suburban YMCA, 276 Church St. Newton, MA 02458 and many other locations across the state.
• When: 11:30am - 1:30pm for lunch, 2:30pm - 3:30pm for snack. Available Monday – Friday.

The free lunches and snacks are offered to campers attending the West Suburban YMCA's day camps - YMCA Camp Pikati and YMCA Camp Chickami - as well as students enrolled in the Y's Preschool Center for Youth Development.

In the summer of 2020, the West Suburban YMCA distributed approximately 4,750 free lunches and 6,000 free snacks through the Summer Eats program.

About Food Insecurity

According to the USDA, nearly 10% of Massachusetts households experience food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic, which led to layoffs and reductions in hours for many Americans, has underscored the importance of programs that address food insecurity in our communities. During the school year, many families stretch their food budget by applying for free or reduced-price school meals for their children. Frequently, these families find it difficult to absorb the additional meal costs when school is not in session. The Summer Meals Program helps to fill the gap left open during the summer months for these families. When children have reliable access to food during the summer, they can return to school ready to learn. By providing free, nutritious meals throughout the summer, the Summer Food Service Program ensures that every child has access to the food they need to succeed.

For more information, contact Keri Wood, Director of Camping Operations, at keriw@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 x3118.