SOUTHERN UTAH — With the start of summer vacation, free summer lunch programs for school-age children have already begun at selected locations in Washington and Iron counties.
Children ages 18 and younger can receive free lunch on most weekdays this summer, with reduced-cost meals available to adults in most cases. Check the listings below for locations, dates, times and other details.
Although the programs in the two counties are operated differently, both are funded and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, which reportedly serves more than 200 million meals annually and is designed to enable low-income children to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.
Washington County
Washington County’s free lunch program started June 3 and runs through July 18. Meals are served Mondays through Thursdays at all locations except for Sandtown Park, which also serves meals on Fridays. The Sandtown Park location, which is operated by Utah Food Bank, will serve meals through Aug. 2. Adult meals are not available at the Sandtown location; however, at all the Washington County School District locations, adult meals and additional meals may be purchased for $4 each, with payment by cash only.
At all locations, meals will not be served on the July 4 Independence Day holiday nor on the July 24 Pioneer Day state holiday.
Washington County’s free summer lunch locations and times are as follows:
- Vernon Worthen Park, 300 S. 400 East, St. George | noon to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- Red Mountain Elementary, 263 E. 200 South, Ivins | 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- Paradise Canyon Elementary (formerly Dixie Sun Elementary), 1795 W. 1230 North, St. George | 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- Hurricane Community Park, 63 S. 100 West, Hurricane | 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- Washington City Veterans Park, 75 E. Telegraph St., Washington | 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- Sandtown Park (east side of park), 600 N. Bluff St., St. George | 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Iron County
Free and reduced lunches in Iron County started May 28 and are being served at two locations Mondays through Fridays until Aug. 9. No lunches will be served on the July 4 and July 24 holidays. Click here to see the menu calendar for June, and check the Cedar City Summer Lunch Program’s Facebook page for updates.
Once again, volunteers from the local Community Presbyterian Church and Southern Utah University will prepare and serve the meals. Adults may also purchase a meal for $2, payable by cash only. Lunches are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Additionally, volunteers from SUU’s Community Engagement Center will be conducting free weekly activities at both locations: every Monday at Enoch Elementary and every Thursday at Cedar City’s Main Street Park. The hourlong activities include water games, outdoor games, mini-Olympics and other sports games. The activities will start 15 minutes after lunchtime begins and last for one hour.
The Iron County free summer lunch locations and hours are as follows:
- Main Street Park, 200 N. Main St., Cedar City | 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Enoch Elementary, 4701 N. Wagon Wheel Drive E., Cedar City | noon to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Additionally, the Utah Food Bank will operate a separate free lunch program at Gateway Preparatory Academy in Enoch, starting June 10 and lasting through July 19. Lunch will be served at the school, located at 201 Thoroughbred Way, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, with the exception of July 4.
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