The following communities are offering FREE food programs for youth during the school shutdown period. I will add sites and information as it becomes available. Please reach out with any locations I'm missing so we can make sure there is #nochildhungry during this unprecedented time.
Agawam: Beginning March 19, FREE Grab and Go lunches available to all youth from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., inside the main entrance of Agawam Junior High School, 1305 Springfield St., Feeding Hills.
Agawam: Agawam Lions Club Pop Up Pantry, Wednesdays ONLY, beginning March 25, 5-7 p.m., drive up, open the trunk or door and receive bags of non-perishable food items, look for the tents in the parking lot, drive-up ONLY, please do not exit your vehicle, social distancing protocol will be followed, Bethany Assembly of God Church, 580 Main St., Agawam.
Agawam: Through the end of March any elementary, middle school or junior high student can received a FREE kid smoothie, Monday - Friday 6 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Nutrition First, 333 Walnut St. Ext., Agawam.
Chicopee: FREE breakfast and lunch to all children under the age of 18 via “drive through” grab and go style meal service each day at the following sites: Barry Elementary School; Belcher Elementary School; Bellamy Middle School; Bowe Elementary School; Bowie Elementary School; Chicopee High School; Chicopee Comprehensive High School; Dupont Middle School; Fairview Elementary School; Lambert-Lavoie Elementary School; Litwin Elementary School; Stefanik Elementary School; Streiber Elementary School. Meals will be available from 11AM-1PM on Monday, March 16th, and 8AM-1PM each day thereafter. Meals will be pre-assembled and packaged into brown bags, and set up on tables outside of each school. Signage will be posted to guide you to the exact meal service location at each school. Each student will be given a lunch as well as a breakfast for the next day- no questions asked. There is no registration, ID, address, or name needed. All meals are free and you may stop by anytime during the service hours at any site- it does not need to be the school the student attends. Children do need to be present at meal pickups. Please note that due to the nature of the meal service and product availability from our vendors, we will not always be able to accommodate allergies and parents/guardians assume responsibility for their children’s allergies.
Greenfield: FREE grab and go breakfasts and lunches available to any child 18 and under, available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning March 16 at the following locations: Newton Elementary School; Greenfield Middle School; Greenfield High School; (additional sites may be added -- check link for updates), child must be present to receive meals, allergies will try to be accommodated with a doctor's note.
Holyoke: Holyoke school-aged students will be able to pick up FREE breakfast and lunch at the front doors of the following schools, Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Donahue, Holyoke High School North, Kelly, Lawrence and Sullivan, beginning March 16.
Monson: FREE grab and go meal packets available to youth ages 18 and under from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates: March 17, 18, 20, 23, 25 and 27 at Quarry Hill Community School, two days worth of meals will be available each date.
Pittsfield: FREE Grab and go breakfast and lunch packets will be available from 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday through March 27 at the following locations: Morningside Community School, Conte Community School, Dower Square Housing Village, The Berkshire Family YMCA, Gladys Brigham Center, Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires, The Brattleboro Apartments.
Southwick: FREE Grab and go meals available from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. weekdays at the main entrance of Powder Mill School, 94 Powder Mill Road, Southwick and at the Granville Town Hall, 707 Main Road, Granville, beginning March 18. If you'd like to participate, please see link to complete survey so the program can maximize resources.
Springfield: FREE hot dog, chips and drink, one meal per school age child, Wednesday-Friday during school shutdown period, 11 a.m. - noon, Fire House Hot Dogs, Union Station, Springfield, FREE.
Springfield: One FREE Kids Meal per child per day, in store only, Wings Over Springfield, 1219 Parker St., Springfield.
Springfield: FREE grab and go meal packets available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the front steps at the following school locations: Bowles, Commerce, Dorman, Glickman, Indian Orchard, Kensington, Liberty, Lincoln, Rebecca Johnson, Talmage, Warner, Washington. Meals available to anyone age 18 and younger, no identification required.
Turners Falls: beginning Tuesday 3/17, there will be individually portioned lunch bags available for pickup on the patio of Five Eyed Fox, 37 3rd St., Turners Falls Monday - Friday at noon sharp. If you live in Turners Falls and do not have a vehicle, they will deliver. Contact: [email protected] or call/text (760) 855 8478.
West Springfield: FREE Student Pick-up of Meals are available weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 6 in the parking lots at the following sites: Mittineague School; Memorial School; Coburn School; Boys and Girls Club; Fausey School; Birch Park Circle; De Ville Apartments at1149 Elm Street; Tatham School; Ashley School; Olympia Manor at 107 Ashley Ave; Ashley Arms at 131 Ashley Ave (Ashley Arms), upon arrival at the site, parents/guardians will be asked to provide their child/children’s names, school and grade level families may pick up at any location it does not need to be a location where you child attends school.
Westfield: FREE grab and go dinner meals for youth ages 2-18 available each weekday at three locations throughout the city: Colonial Pine Acres from 5-6 p.m.; Franklin Ave. Elementary School from 5-6 p.m., Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield from 4:30-6 p.m.
Westfield: FREE grab and go lunches available to all youth under age 18, each weekday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., pickup at Abner Gibbs Elementary School, 50 West Silver St., OR Franklin Ave. Elementary School, 22 Franlkin Ave., CHILDREN MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE A LUNCH.
Recent Comments