Free lunch in NC, Wake County: Find a summer meal site near you

Many families depend on the free or reduced meals their children are served in school during the academic year.

There are various meal programs in Wake County and across the state that provide free food for children during the summer months.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction website features a map parents can use to search for free meal sites in their area. Parents can also text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 during the summer months to find free meal sites.

The meal sites will serve all children and teenagers under 18. They do not need to be enrolled in their public school system to participate. The different locations offer various meals -- breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner or a combination.

Wake County Public Schools

The following locations offer a "walk-up and eat-in" meal service without requiring children to be enrolled in their summer programming.

WCHS Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
Operating dates: June 19 to Aug. 4
Operating days: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to noon
Note: Meals are not available on July 3 and July 4

The Black Farmer Hub,1409 Cross St., Raleigh
Operating dates: June 21 to Aug. 4
Operating days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Lunch service time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Afternoon snack service time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Note: Meals are not available on July 3

River Birch at Town Center Apartments, 2611 Torquay Crossing, Raleigh
Operating dates: June 26 to Aug. 3
Operating days: Monday through Friday
Lunch service time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Note: Meals are not available on July 3 and July 4

Poe Center for Health Education, 224 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh
Operating dates: June 21 to Aug. 1
Operating days: Wednesday
Lunch service time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Historic Oak View County Park, 4028 Carya Drive, Raleigh
Operating dates: June 20 to Aug. 4
Operating days: Monday through Friday
Lunch service time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Note: Meals are not available on July 3 and July 4

Durham Public Schools

This year’s program will start June 20 and run until Aug. 4. Summer meal sites can be located by texting FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304.

Orange County Schools

Orange County Schools will offer free summer meals through Aug. 5. Any student under the age of 18 can eat a free lunch this summer. Due to new USDA regulations, grab-and-go meals will not be available. All summer meals must be consumed on site at the following locations:

Gravelly Hill Middle School, 4801 W. Ten Road, Efland
11 a.m. to noon in the school cafeteria

A.L. Stanback Middle School, 3700 N.C. Highway 86, Hillsborough
11 a.m. to noon in the school cafeteria

Orange Middle School, 308 Orange High School Road, Hillsborough
11 a.m. to noon in the school cafeteria

Efland Cheeks Community Center, 117 Richmond Rd, Mebane
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the park shelter

Cedar Grove Community Center, 5800 N.C. Highway 86, Hillsborough
June 13 through July 8, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Thursday only in the cafeteria

Note: There will be no meal service the week of July 4.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

Free meals and enrichment activities are offered this summer to any students age 18 and younger. Children no longer are required to stay at the site to eat meals, and meals can now be picked up for other children who are not physically present.

Free meals for anyone age 18 and younger are available at these locations:

Northside Elementary School, 350 Caldwell St., 11 a.m.-1p.m. (Mondays-Thursdays, except holidays)

Community sites (Mondays-Thursdays, except holidays). Just look for the big yellow bus:

• Airport Gardens, 859 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
• Dobbins Hill, 1749 Dobbins Drive, 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
• Eastwood Apartments, 100 Billie Holiday Court, 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
• Colony Woods, 1700 Jackie Robinson St., 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• Pinegate Apartments, 100 Pinegate Circle, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• Ridgefield Apartments, 398 South Estes Drive, 11:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m.

Cumberland County Schools

This summer, meals will be served at the locations listed below from Monday through Thursday, starting June 5 through July 28.

There are no income requirements or registration. Children must be present and meals must be consumed at the site location. Anyone aged 18 or younger may receive a free meal. For more information, call 910-678-2502.

Lunch is available Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., on a first come, first serve basis at the following locations.

• College Lakes Elementary, 4963 Rosehill Road, Fayetteville
• Lake Rim Elementary, 1455 Hoke Loop Road, Fayetteville
• Morganton Road Elementary, 102 Bonanza Drive, Fayetteville
• Rockfish Elementary, 5763 Rockfish Road, Hope Mills
• Sherwood Park Elementary, 2115 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville
• Sunnyside Elementary, 3876 Sunnyside School Road, Fayetteville
• Walker Spivey Elementary, 500 Fisher St., Fayetteville

Recreation center meal sites:

Children ages 18 years and younger can receive a free lunch at the following recreation center Monday to Thursday.

Cliffdale Recreation Center (11:35 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.)
6404 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville

E.E. Miller Recreation Center (11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.)
1347 Rim Road, Fayetteville

J.D. Fuller Recreation Center (12:05 p.m. - 12:25 p.m.)
6627 Old Bunce Road, Fayetteville

Kiwanis Recreation Center (11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.)
352 Devers St., Fayetteville

Massey Hill Recreation Center (12:20 p.m. - 12:40 p.m.)
1612 Camden Road, Fayetteville

Smith Recreation Center (11:40 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
1520 Slater Ave., Fayetteville

Spring Lake Recreation Center (11:00 a.m.- 11:20 a.m.)
245 Ruth St., Spring Lake

Westover Recreation Center (12:35 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.)
267 Bonanza Drive, Fayetteville

The Summer Meals Bus will be stopping at two locations in Spring Lake to serve free meals to children 18 years and younger.

Spring Lake Library (11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Monday-Thursday)
101 Laketree Blvd., Spring Lake

Spring Lake Fire Station #11 (12 p.m. - 12:20 p.m. Monday-Thursday)
2355 Lillington Highway, Spring Lake

How to help

Get more information about sponsoring a summer meal site online.