Springfield, MA - June 13th, 2025

With the school year ending, free Summer Eats meals will begin soon on Monday, June 23rd, in Springfield! All kids and teens 18 and under can eat meals for free; no sign-up is required, and no questions are asked. Just visit the Summer Eats sites throughout the summer at the time listed on our website.

This summer, kids and teens eat free at meal sites throughout Springfield! Kids and teens must be present to receive a meal and are required to eat on-site. Many sites will host fun, kid-friendly activities throughout the summer! For more information on fun activities and to track down our food truck, follow Home Grown Springfield on social media @homegrownsps or visit our website at www.homegrownspringfield.org/summereats.

"We're excited to kick off the Free Summer Eats meal program in Springfield," said Home Grown Springfield’s Student Engagement Manager, Karly Dunn. “Our summer meal locations and activities are designed to keep students engaged and connected even when school is out. The Summer Eats program is about more than just food and fun, it's about helping our kids thrive all summer long.”

Summer Eats – Free Meals for Kids & Teens

• Home Grown Springfield, the Culinary & Nutrition Program of Springfield Public Schools, will make and distribute Summer Eats meals across the city this summer.
• Each summer, Home Grown Springfield’s Summer Eats program lessens the summer hunger gap by increasing access to free meals for kids and teens.
• Home Grown Springfield provides lunch Monday through Friday for children and teens 18 and under at no cost. No registration or identification is required.

 “Food has a special way of bringing people together, and we’re proud to make every bite count this summer,” said Home Grown Springfield Executive Chef, Andrew Hall. “Not only are we offering free summer meals daily all over Springfield, but each week, kids and teens 18 and under can look forward to food truck gatherings and community cookouts in the park, featuring fresh, seasonal menus and family-friendly activities.”

Chase the Flavor: Follow the Summer Eats Food Truck

From June 23rd to August 15th , the Springfield Summer Eats food truck will hit the road, bringing nutritious meals directly to the community during the early days of the summer. The vibrant food truck will make daily stops at Forest Park, Blunt Park, Kenefick Park, and Marshall Roy Park to serve lunch. The service will run Monday through Thursday. For more information on serving times, visit www.homegrownspringfield.org/summereats.

New North Citizens’ Council Back to School Community Kickoff: Roberto Clemente Field, Springfield

Join NNCC and Home Grown Springfield at the annual back to school community kickoff event Friday, August 15th! From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., come by Roberto Clemente Field for fun games, outdoor activities and a free grilled meal for all youth ages 18 and under as we get ready for another great school year.

Are you a community organization looking to become a meal site for summer 2025? If an organization is interested in becoming a meal site for summer 2025 or if you have questions and want to learn more about the program, call 413-787-7111.

About Springfield Public Schools 

The Springfield Promise: Springfield Public Schools are world class learning environments that produce 21st century leaders. Students will graduate from high school College and Career ready. The school district attracts knowledgeable, highly effective and diverse teachers and principals who want to work in a high performing district. Parents and community members are moving into Springfield for the privilege of sending their students to schools that are thriving in a culture of equity and proficiency.

About Home Grown Springfield

Home Grown Springfield is the food service program of Springfield Public Schools, which works to make the highest quality school meals for Springfield students. Home Grown Springfield seeks to continually improve the quality of school meals by making culturally relevant, scratch-made foods and utilizing local ingredients whenever possible. By providing nourishing meals for students and expanding learning opportunities through farm-to-school programming, we seek to fuel academic achievement in and beyond school. Sodexo is the contracted service provider for Home Grown Springfield, bringing quality of life services to the Springfield Public Schools community. 

Contacts

Lydia Rodriguez, Director of Operations & Communications

413-787-7111 ext:66139

Lydia.Rodriguez@Sodexo.com

Andrew Stratton, General Manager

413-787-7111 ext:66105

Andrew.Stratton@Sodexo.com