Feeding a Child’s Mind and More: Free Meals Return to the Arlington Public Library
By Arlington Public Library
Posted on May 15, 2020, May 15, 2020

Library Lunch Program

The Arlington Public Library is serving free meals to children for the fifth year this summer. Youth ages 18 and under can receive free breakfasts and lunches to take home from three locations. The Library joins CitySquare to offer meal pickup twice a week from May 20 through August 5.

Like many services, the meal pick up format has changed with social distancing requirements. This year, CitySquare will set up a drive-through at each location. Families can stay safely inside their cars to pick up food! Patrons may also choose to walk up for service.

“Modern libraries are community hubs,” says Stacy Garcia, Library Administrator for Programming and Community Engagement. “Especially at this time, it’s a priority for us to support Arlington’s children and families.”

Meals will be served Mondays and Wednesdays outside the following locations:

- Downtown Library, from 10:30-11:45 a.m.

- East Arlington Branch, from 12:15-1:30 p.m.

- Southeast Branch, from 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Families will receive a breakfast and a lunch for multiple days at each visit. Two days of meals are available on Mondays, and three days of meals are available on Wednesdays. Meals will not be available on Monday, May 25, when all locations will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

These meals are free and there are no income or identification requirements to participate. All children must be present in order to receive food. Unfortunately, parents cannot request food for children who are not with them.

This is the Library’s fifth summer providing meals in partnership with CitySquare Food on the Move, a federally funded nutrition program that meets the needs of children who might go hungry outside of school. CitySquare is one of the largest nonprofit at-risk food sponsors in Texas.

The Arlington Public Library and CitySquare have served more than 18,000 meals to Arlington’s children since partnering in 2015.

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