MONROE COUNTY, MI — Free food will again be available to children and teens this summer. Both on-site meals and food bundles are offered across Monroe County by different organizations.
“We are seeing a significant increase in the need for summer, 2025,” said Amanda Schmitz, financial development director for the Monroe Family YMCA. “Last week, we served 4,200 meals in 300 bundles through bundle distribution. We also served an additional 1,000 meals at our congregate sites. This is an increase from the first week of 2024, when we served 2,730 meals in 195 bundles. While we have plans to significantly increase the number of bundles at each of our distribution sites moving forward, we are only able to produce enough bundles for which we have the capacity to safely store.”
At its first food bundle distribution of 2025, Monroe Public Schools gave out 1,000 packages.
“The survey (the district conducted) indicated there was a need for 450 meal bundles; 1,000 were prepped. The team will be increasing the quantity for future distributions,” said Wendy Krouse, community engagement director for MPS. MPS, like the YMCA, also offers on-site meals.
Here are the food options available for this summer.
Monroe Family YMCA’s programs
The Monroe Family YMCA provides free summer meals to all youth up to age 18, with no questions asked and no registration required. Some sites offer meals and activities. Others provide grab-and-go food bundles.
On-site meals will be available at these locations (all sites are closed July 4):
Grab-and-go food bundles will be available at several sites. Erie Restaurant is a new location for the program this year; it’s a collaboration between the YMCA and local organization Bobbie’s Staff.
“It ensures south county has easier access to meal bundles,” Schmitz said.
Food bundles are available to all youth age 18 and under. The youth need not be present. Bundles contain seven breakfasts and seven dinners and are provided through the USDA’s Rural Non-Congregate Summer Food Service Program, Schmitz said. Food items include dairy, fruit, whole grain components, vegetables and protein.
Pickup sites are:
The major sponsor of the program is La-Z-Boy Foundation and community partners MCCC and Monroe County Library System.
For more information about the Monroe Family YMCA’s anti-hunger Initiatives, or to learn how to volunteer or give financially, contact Carrie Bean at 734-241-2606, ext. 242 or cbean@monroefamilyymca.org.
Monroe Public Schools’ programs
Monroe Public Schools and Sodexo Food Services are offering the Free Summer Meal Program. Meals will be served on-site at several locations. For the second year, Monroe Public Schools and Sodexo also are offering free, seven-day food bundles to all local youths, not just MPS students. Children need not be present.
“The program is free for anyone who would like to drive through and have milk, juice, fresh fruits and veggies, as well as seven days’ worth of breakfasts and lunches for their children, loaded into their cars,” said Nikki Garcia, an employee of Sodexo Food Services at MPS. “The food bundles will have more ‘fresh’ fruit and vegetable options in the bags, like strawberries, potatoes and grapes, instead of frozen options.”
Food bundles can be picked up from 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays at Raisinville School, 2300 Raisinville Road in Monroe. The program runs through Aug. 7. Participants are asked to turn arrive from Stewart Road and turn right onto Raisinville Road and get into the line. No left turns will be permitted into the school.
“The goal is to have enough for everyone, but we have a limited time we are allowed to serve based on the state’s regulations,” Garcia said. “We are doing our best to accommodate and will continue to prepare more and more bags.”
MPS and Sodexo also partner with the City of Monroe to serve in-person meals at City of Monroe Tot Lot programs. No meals will be served July 4. Locations are:
Meals must be eaten on-site for these programs.
To learn more or to volunteer, call Garcia at 734-265-3120.
Jefferson Schools’ program
Through its Meet Up & Eat Up 2025 program, Jefferson Schools is offering free, seven-day meal bundles to children age 18 and under in the community.
Bundles are distributed from 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays behind Jefferson High School in the Jefferson Recreation Center parking lot, 5707 Williams Road in Newport. Distribution will run through Aug. 20.
One bundle will be given for each child in the household. No registration or income check is required. Bundles include seven breakfasts, seven lunches, fresh produce or juice and a gallon of milk.
“So, if you have three children at home, you’ll get three gallons of milk, 21 breakfasts, 21 lunches and 21 days of produce and/or juice. Let’s make sure no child goes hungry this summer,” Jefferson Schools posted on its Facebook page.
Airport Community Schools’ program
Airport Community Schools is offering a Summer Meals Program through Chartwells K12. The program is for all area children age 18 and under but registration is required.
Deliveries of food runs through Aug. 21 at various locations, including Airport’s elementary schools, Carleton Mobile Home Park, St. Patrick School, Unity Park, Elizabeth Wood and Frenchtown Villa. Pickup also is available from 9 a.m.-noon and 12:30-2 p.m. Thursdays at Wagar Middle School.
Meet Up and Eat Up meals also are served from 8-9 a.m. and noon-1 p.m. Mondays-Fridays at Airport High School.
To learn more, email the district at summermeals@airportschools.com.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler atswisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Plenty of free food available for Monroe County kids this summer
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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