Free Meals Available To HCPSS Students Now Through Aug. 12

HOWARD COUNTY, MD —Howard County Public School System students age 18 and younger can pick up free meals at select sites this summer weekdays from now through Aug. 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. There are no applications, enrollment or fees to participate in this program. There will be no meal service July 4 or July 19.

Per Maryland State Department of Education guidelines:

• All summer meals must be eaten on site with the exception of fresh fruit and prepackaged items.
• Parents/guardians will not be allowed to collect to-go meals for their children.
• Children must be present to receive summer meals.

Meal distribute sites are:

- Laurel Woods Elementary School, 9250 N Laurel Rd., Laurel
- Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Rd., Columbia
- Swansfield Elementary School, 5610 Cedar Lane, Columbia
- Thomas Viaduct Middle School, 7000 Banbury Dr., Hanover
- Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Rd., Ellicott City
- Howard County Library System East Columbia Branch, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia

“During the school year, many Howard County children take advantage of free or reduced-price meals to meet their needs, but when school is out in the summer, our families still need options,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “Our community has a tradition of stepping up during challenging times and as inflation and supply change challenges increases the cost of groceries, the need is greater than ever. We are proud that there are many options to make sure families have the food they need this summer.”

Other opportunities to obtain free or reduced-cost food in the county are:

• The Roving Radish Marketplace, open year-round in Long Reach Village Center, brings diary, meats and produce from local farms and sells it to the community. The Marketplace is open to anyone and through the support of the Local Children’s Board Healthy Food Access Program, families who are income-qualified are provided a 50 percent subsidy on the groceries or meal kits bought at the Marketplace.
• Lisbon Food & Fun provides hot meals to go, meal kits, and weekend snack packs July 7 to Aug. 11th from 6 – 7 p.m. at the Lisbon United Methodist Church.

"The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program ensures that children in Howard County have access to the nutritious meals they need to remain healthy and active and to thrive," Brian Ralph, HCPSS director of food and nutrition services, said. "Too many families struggle with food insecurities and the multiple meal options provided by the school system, county and generous partners are helping to lessen that insecurity."