Veronica Diaz squirts mayonnaise on her son Victor’s sandwich during a free summer lunch at Washington Elementary School on June 18, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)

Children ages one-18 are eligible for a free meal through the federal Summer Break Meal Program despite mixed messages about the program’s federal funding and local logistics. 

In Salem and Keizer, there are nine school sites where families can visit to receive a free bagged lunch that contains a fruit, vegetable, grain, meat or meat substitute and a dairy item. 

Prior to the pandemic, rules mandated that the meals had to be consumed on site. However, families are now free to grab and go.

The program, which provides a free lunch to local children nationwide was on the chopping block in June when the federal waiver that allows for universal free school lunches was set to expire June 30. Congress extended the program through the summer on June 23. 

So far, in the month of July, 15,800 meals have been distributed. 

That number is about average when compared to numbers seen prior to Covid, said Dezrae Sonnabend, a food service specialist with the Salem-Keizer School District. During the pandemic, additional funding was available meaning additional sites were giving out meals. 

The district has also been granted permission to distribute meals to parents when the child is not present. There is a limit of five meals per pickup person. 

Any child, regardless of whether or not they are enrolled in the school system, is eligible for a free meal up to the age of 18. 

Locations include Auburn Elementary, Bush Elementary, Cummings Elementary, Gubser Elementary, Harritt Elementary, Lamb Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Wright Elementary and North Salem High School.

All sites operate weekdays between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Aug. 26. No ID is required. More information is available on the district website.

-Caitlyn May

By Salem Reporter