School-aged children can enjoy free meals for breakfast and lunch throughout Northern Virginia, even when school is not in session.

Food insecurity is a growing problem in our region, and the public school systems are certainly doing their part to combat it this summer. In conjunction with the USDA's Summer Food Program, nutritious meals will be served throughout Northern Virginia to any school-aged (under 18) children in need.

If your community isn't listed, try the USDA Summer Meal finder to locate the closest participating site to you. You can also call (866) 348-6479 and someone will help you find a local site.

 

Prince William County put it best on their website:

"Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination during the meal service." – Prince William County Public Schools

At participating schools, meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis as long as supplies last. Here's a list of the schools who will be hosting in our area:

Fairfax County

Fairfax County has established two "open sites" where children aged 5-18 can get free meals from June 17 to August 23, with no meals being served on July 4 and July 5. At both sites, breakfast will be served 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Huntington Community Center (5751 Liberty Drive | Alexandria, VA)

  • Lunch will be served from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

South County Teen Center (8350 Richmond Highway | Alexandria, VA)

  • Lunch will be served from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

sandwich

Loudoun County

Free meals will be provided in Loudoun County at the following schools, with the exception of July 4 and July 5 for all sites:

Leesburg Elementary (June 17 to August 2, Monday-Friday)

  • Breakfast 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Rolling Ridge Elementary, Sugarland Elementary, Sully Elementary and Forest Grove Elementary (July 8 to August 2, Monday-Friday)

  • Breakfast 8 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
  • Lunch 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sterling Library (June 10 to August 16, Monday-Friday)

  • Lunch 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Manassas Park

Manassas Park Community Center (99 Adams Street | Manassas Park, VA)

  • Monday through Friday from June 24 to Aug. 9, with no meals served on July 4 and July 5. 
  • Breakfast will be served between 9-10 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The service will be closed Thursday and Friday, July 4 and 5.

oranges

Prince William County

Bel Air Elementary | July 8–25 (Monday through Thursday)

  • Breakfast: 9:30–10:30 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Covington Harper Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:45–9:15 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Dale City Elementary | July 8–August 2 (Closed July 15–19)

  • Breakfast: 8:15–8:30 a.m.
  • Lunch: 12–12:30 p.m.

Dumfries Elementary | July 29–August 15 (Monday through Thursday)

  • Breakfast: 9–9:30 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11–11:30 a.m.

Ellis Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:50–9:10 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 10:45–11:30 and 11:30–11:45 a.m. 

Enterprise Elementary | June 17–August 16 (Closed July 4)

  • Breakfast: 8–9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 12–1 p.m.

Featherstone Elementary | July 8–26 

  • Breakfast: 8:30–9:15 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:15–1:15 p.m.

Freedom High | July 8–19

  • Breakfast: 7–7:25 a.m.
  • Lunch: 10:30–11 a.m.

Gar-Field High School |June 24–August 2 (Closed July 4)

  • Breakfast: 7:30–8 a.m.
  • Lunch: 12–12:30 p.m. 

Hampton Middle School | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 7:30–7:40 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 9:50–11:10 a.m. 

Kilby Elementary | July 8–26 

  • Breakfast: 8:30–9:30 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 

Kilby Elementary | August 5–15 (Monday through Thursday)

  • Breakfast: 8:45–9:15 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–12p.m.

Loch Lomond Elementary | July 22–August 8 (Monday through Thursday) 

  • Breakfast: 9–9:30 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. 

McAuliffe Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:45–9:15 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 10:45–11:30 a.m.

Mullen Elementary | June 17–August 16 (Closed July 4)

  • Breakfast: 8–9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 12–1 p.m.

Mullen Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:45–9:05 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 10:55–11:50 a.m. 

Neabsco Elementary | June 17–August 16 (Closed July 4)

  • Breakfast: 8–9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 12–1 p.m. 

Occoquan Elementary | June 24–July 12 (Closed July 4)

  • Breakfast: 8:30–9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 

Penn Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:45–9:10 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 10:45–11:15 a.m.

Potomac View Elementary | August 12–15 

  • Breakfast: 9–9:30 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:15–11:45 a.m. 

Sinclair Elementary | July 22–August 8 (Monday through Thursday)

  • Breakfast: 8:30–9 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:15-11:45 a.m. 

Sudley Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:55–9:30 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11:40 a.m.–12:15 p.m. 

Swans Creek Elementary | June 17–August 16 (Closed July 4)

  • Breakfast: 8–9 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 12–1 p.m. 

Triangle Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:45–9:15 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 10:50–11:45 a.m. 

Vaughan Elementary | July 29–August 15 (Monday through Thursday)

  • Breakfast: 8:50–9:50 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 11:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m.

West Gate Elementary | July 8–August 1 (Monday through Thursday)

  • Breakfast: 8:10–8:45 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 10:45–11:45 a.m. 

Williams Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:30–9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 12–12:30 p.m. 

Yorkshire Elementary | July 8–26

  • Breakfast: 8:50–9:15 a.m. 
  • Lunch: 10:15–10:50 a.m.

Yorkshire Elementary | July 22–August 9

  • Breakfast: 8:20–9 a.m.
  • Lunch: 10:15–10:50 a.m. 

**All of the photos in this article are courtesy of the USDA.

Do you have other free summer meal sites in your community? Tell us about them in the comments!