PRESS RELEASE

Above: Young community members engage with City of Long Beach staff as they participate in a previous free Summer Food Service Program event.

Long Beach, CA – For the 46th year in a row, the City of Long Beach, Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine will offer the free United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program to provide free, nutritious meals to Long Beach children and youth over the summer months.

“Every child deserves the nourishment they need to grow, learn and thrive—even when school is out,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “For more than 40 years, the Summer Food Service Program has been a vital service, ensuring our young residents have access to wholesome meals and supporting our community’s health and wellbeing.”

Beginning June 16 through Aug. 22, 2025, PRM will provide free meals in parks for children and youth Mondays through Fridays, with operating times varying at each site between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (excluding holidays on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, July 4, 2025).  Additionally, meals will be served at Bret Harte and Brewitt Neighborhood Libraries Tuesdays through Fridays beginning June 17 through Aug. 8. Meals will be available to all attending children and youth between 1 and 18 years old. Infant meals will not be provided.  Lunches must be eaten in the designated eating area. Meals will consist of well-balanced, nutritious options and will include cold components such as milk, juice, fruits and vegetables. To participate, eligible youth can simply arrive at a participating location during the designated times, no registration required.

This year, the Summer Food Service Program will operate at 24 locations throughout Long Beach and Signal Hill. To view the complete list of times and locations where meals will be provided and for more information, visit the Summer Food Program webpage or call the Summer Food Office at 562.570.3524.

The Summer Food Service Program began in Long Beach in 1979 and has since provided more than two million meals to children and teens, ages 1 to 18 years. The program was established to ensure that during the school summer break, children would be able to receive the same well-balanced meals they receive during the school year. The Summer Food Service Program for Children is funded through USDA and administered by the California Department of Education.

This program aligns with the City’s Summer of Opportunity initiative, a collective impact approach focused on fostering positive development among Long Beach youth while simultaneously addressing youth violence. Highlights of Summer of Opportunity activations and the City’s summer activities calendar are available on the City’s Summer of Opportunity webpage.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is available at longbeach.gov/park and on Facebook and Instagram.