Summer food, free lunch programs available in Northern Utah
A free Summer Food Program is funded by the federal government but administered through area school districts. Any child under 18 may receive a free meal when they attend programs at schools where the meals are served.
Through the Double Up Food Bucks program, families who receive food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, receive double food coins they may spend at farmer's markets from funds they spend through food stamps.
This advertisement is one typically found at farmers markets that participate in Double Up Food Bucks. Through the program, families who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, receive double coins that may be used for food from funds they spend through food stamps at area farmer's markets.
Summer help is available for children and families who can’t afford nutritious food.
Programs including local food banks, Double Up Food Bucks and the Summer Food Program are set to help families in Northern Utah this summer.
Double Up Food Bucks is a nutrition incentive program that each time matches up to $10 in food stamp benefits, dollar-for-dollar when customers use food stamps at participating farmers markets.
The Summer Food Program offers free school lunch to any child under 18 who attends.
Officials at the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank in west Ogden, the largest Northern Utah food bank, said summer is their busiest time of year as families who rely on free school lunches and other school-time programs visit the food bank as an alternate way to meet their needs.
“Over 50 percent of our population at the food bank is kids,” said Catholic Community Services of Northern Utah Director Randy Chappell.
He said the food bank this year will have a booth at the Ogden Farmer’s Market to keep the facility in the minds of those who could potentially donate, as well as those who might be in need of food.
“We’ll have fun games so people can hear what they can do to help,” Chappell said.
Families may receive food boxes at 2504 F Avenue in west Ogden. Call 801-394-5944 for an appointment.
DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS
Brian Emerson, community food systems coordinator at Utahns Against Hunger, said the Double Up Food Bucks expands a family’s food dollar. “It makes fresh foods and vegetables more affordable for families that otherwise wouldn’t have it,” he said.
Emerson said research shows that the program creates a win for both families and local economies.
“It shows that families that participate in the program tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and their food security is increased,” he said. “Their consumption of fruits and vegetables tend to become a habit.”
Emerson said processed foods tend to be less expensive and the program offers more nutritious choices.
He said the program also benefits the economy. “Every dollar spent in farmer’s markets generates $2,80 of extra economic activity,” he said.
Participating farmers markets in Northern Utah include:
Weber County
- Farmers Market Ogden, Grant Ave. and 25th Street, Saturdays from June 25 through Sept. 17
- Harrisville City Summer Farmers Market, Harrisville Park, 1350 N. Hwy 89, Thursdays from 4 p.m. to dusk, June 16 through Oct. 13
- Marriott-Slaterville City Summer Farmers Market, Marriott Park, 1150 S. 1200 West, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 11 through Oct. 15.
Davis County
- Syracuse City Farmers Market, Founders Park, 1904 W. 1700 South, Wednesdays, 4 p.m. to dusk, July 6 through Sept. 28
- USU Botanical Center Farmers Market, 875 S. 50 West, Kaysville, Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 7 through Sept. 22.
Families may participate in both Double Up Food Bucks and the Summer Food Program.
SUMMER FOOD: FREE LUNCH AT SCHOOLS
“Participating in the Summer Food Program is easy because there is no registration or application to fill out,” said a news release from Utahns Against Hunger. “Kids just need to show up to receive a meal!”
“Not only does the Summer Food Program provide nutritious meals to kids when school is out but kids get to see their friends and sites may also provide fun activities to help keep kids engaged in learning and moving during the summer,” said Marti Woolford, nutrition initiatives director at Utahns Against Hunger, which provides advocacy for the federal program.
Free lunch will be served in school district facilities where high numbers of residents qualify for free and reduced school lunches. All programs have rules, such as lunches must be eaten in the lunchroom and visiting adults must pay for their meals and not eat food from children’s plates.
Box Elder School Disctrict
In the Box Elder School District, free lunches will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. weekdays June 13 through Aug. 5 (except July 4 and 25).
The meals will be served at:
- Garland Elementary, 450 S. 100 West, Garland
- Lake View Elementary, 851 S. 200 West, Brigham City
- McKinley Elementary, 120 W. 500 South, Tremonton
- Mountain View Elementary, 650 E. 700 South, Brigham City
Ogden School District
The Ogden School District, free lunches will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. weekdays June 6 through July 29 (except July 4) at:
- Bonneville Elementary, 490 Gramercy Ave.
- Lincoln Elementary, 550 E. Canfield Drive
- Madison Elementary, 2563 Monroe Blvd.
- Odyssey Elementary, 375 Goddard St.
- Ben Lomond High, 1080 Ninth St.
- 4th Street Park, 4th Street and Wall Ave.
- Jaycee Park, 25th Street and Fillmore Ave.
- Lester Park, 24th Street and Madison Ave.
- Lorin Farr Park, 17th Street and Gramercy Ave.
- Marshall White Center, 222 28th Street
- Monroe Park, 30th Street and Monroe Blvd.
- Mount Ogden Park, 32nd Street and Taylor Ave.
- West Ogden Park, 24th Street and E Ave.
Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m Monday through Thursday at:
- Ogden High, 2828 Harrison Blvd.
- Washington High, 455 28th St.
Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. weekdays at Madison Elementary, Ben Lomond High and Ogden High.
Weber School District
In the Weber School District, free lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays from June 6 through July 29 (except for July 4 and 25).
North Ogden
- Green Acres Elementary, 640 E. 1900 North
- North Ogden Elementary, 530 E. 2650 North
Roy
- Lakeview Elementary, 2025 W. 5000 South
- Municipal Elementary, 5775 S. 2200 West
- North Park Elementary, 4046 S. 2175 West
- Roy Elementary, 2888 W. 5600 South
Washington Terrace
- Washington Terrace Elementary, 20 E. 4600 South
Davis School District
In the Davis School District, free lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 6 through Aug. 11 (except for July 4, 5 and 25).
Bountiful
- Adelaide Elementary, 731 W. 3600 South
- Meadowbrook Elementary, 700 N. 325 West
Clearfield
- Antelope Elementary, 1810 S. Main Street
- North Davis Jr. High, 835 S. State Street
- Wasatch Elementary, 210 E. Center Street
Layton
- Lincoln Elementary, 591 W. Antelope Drive
- Vae View Elementary, 1750 W. 1600 North
- Whitesides Elementary, 233 N. Colonial Ave.
North Salt Lake
- Foxboro Elementary, 587 N. Foxboro Drive
Sunset
- Sunset Jr. High, 1610 N. 250 West
More information about these programs is available at uah.org.
You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook.