Summer Meals for Kids

The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids Starts Today!

~ todtheopendoor
The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids interns, from left: Magdalena Smyth, AJ Porcello, Jenna Church, and Wei Wang.

With the school year at its close, The Open Door FREE Summer Meals for Kids program is BACK starting TODAY, Monday June 17 at select locations.

Children and teens age 18 and under are welcome to visit any of the participating sites during scheduled hours to receive free, nutritious meals through late August while school is out.   

Last year, The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids program distributed more than 15,300 meals to children on the North Shore, prepared entirely in-house.  

Participating sites include: 

Gloucester Walk-Up Locations: 

The Open Door at 28 Emerson Avenue 
Breakfast and Lunch from June 17- Aug. 23 
Mondays from 9:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Riverdale Park at 69 Veterans’ Way 
Breakfast and Lunch from June 17- Aug. 23 

Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Willowood Gardens at 40 Willowood Road 
Breakfast and Lunch from June 17- Aug. 23 

Monday through Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. 

Pond View Village at 23 Lepage Lane 
Breakfast and Lunch from June 17 – Aug. 23 

Mondays through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

Gloucester High at 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road 
Lunch from July 9 – Aug. 8  

Monday through Friday from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. 

Field Days at Burnham’s Field with East Gloucester Community Church 
7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8, 8/15, 8/22, 8/29  

Lunch select Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. 
 

Story Hour at Sawyer Free Library with Backyard Growers 
7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8, 8/15, 8/22, 8/29  

Lunch select Thursdays from 10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 
 

Gloucester Enrolled Locations: 

  • O’Maley Academy at 32 Cherry Street (Breakfast and Lunch) 
  • Camp Spindrift at 27 Atlantic Street (Lunch) 
  • East Veterans School (Multiple Programs) at 11 Webster Street (Breakfast and Lunch) 
  • GPS Extended School Year 
  • Summer Learning 
  • Gordon STEAM Camp 

Ipswich Walk-Up Location: 
Ipswich Community Food Pantry at 00 Southern Heights in Ipswich 
Breakfast and Lunch from June 18 – Aug. 22  

Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Open Tuesday June 18 and Tuesday July 2 due to holidays 

Ipswich Enrolled Location: 
Doyon Elementary School at 216 Linebrook Road in Ipswich  

Breakfast and Lunch 

The Open Door is proud to sponsor one federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) site this year at O’Maley Academy (more information on this below). The Open Door will privately fund at least 13 additional free Summer Meals for Kids sites where meals will be offered to children with flexibility and choice.  

The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids program strives to accommodate all allergies and special diets, and to learn more about the program or inform staff of a dietary need, please call 978-283-6776 or email summermeals@foodpantry.org. 

Meals may contain choking hazards for children under the age of four. 

The Open Door Sumer Meals for Kids schedule will be updated as needed throughout the summer at FOODPANTRY.org/summermeals. 

For more information about The Open Door, visit FOODPANTRY.org. 

About the Summer Food Service Program 

The Open Door is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge. To be eligible to receive free meals at a residential or non-residential camp or at a conditional rural non-congregate site, children must meet income guidelines for free or reduced price meals in the National School Lunch Program. To view the USDA’s income eligibility guidelines for the 2024-2025 school year, click here. 

Please note these guidelines ONLY apply to the O’Maley Academy site of The Open Door’s Summer Meals for Kids program this year, as that is the only site receiving SFSP funding this season.  

Foster children or children who are part of households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or benefits under the Food Distribution Program or Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to receive free meals.   

Acceptance and participation requirements for the Program and all activities are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times listed below: 

  • O’Maley Academy at 32 Cherry Street from June 17-August 1 on Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. 

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:  

1. mail:  

U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or  

2. fax:  

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or  

3. email: 

Program.Intake@usda.gov  

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 

Free Summer Meals for Kids from The Open Door!

~ todtheopendoor
From left: Summer Meals for Kids intern Vincenzo Videtta, intern Anna Riley, intern Julianna Francis, Summer Meals for Kids Coordinator Rayna Duffield, and intern Joey Wang.  

Families who need a little extra help putting food on the table this summer look no further: The Open Door Summer Meals program is back, with walk-up locations opening next week!

Children and teens under age 18 are welcome to visit any of the participating sites during scheduled hours to receive free, nutritious meals through late August. The Open Door is proud to sponsor three federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites this year. The Open Door will privately sponsor 10 additional free Summer Meals for Kids sites where meals will be offered to children and their families with flexibility and choice. 

Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times as follows: 

Gloucester Walk-Up Locations:

  • The Open Door at 28 Emerson Avenue will serve meals Monday through Friday. Monday through Wednesday meals will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and meals will be available Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site. 
  • Riverdale Park (Mobile location in the area of 69 Veterans’ Way) will have meals available from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.  
  • Willowood Gardens (Mobile location in the area of 40 Willowood Road) will have meals available from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site. 
  • Pond View Village (Mobile location in the area of 23 Lepage Lane) will have meals available from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site. 
  • Gloucester High School at 32 Leslie O Johnson Road will have meals available from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 7 through August 8 at this site. 
  • Field Days at Burnham’s Field with East Gloucester Community Church (in the field abutting Sargent, Burnham, and Pleasant Streets) will have meals available at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays from July 5 through Aug 23 EXCEPT for July 26. 
  • Story Hour at Sawyer Free Library with Backyard Growers at the Garden Beds at 2 Dale Avenue, accessible through the Middle Street entrance will have meals available select Thursdays including June 29, July 13, July 27, August 3, August 10, and August 24 at 10:45 a.m. 

Gloucester Enrolled Locations: 

  • Summer Learning at West Parish at 10 Concord Street will have meals available for enrolled participants at 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through July 27 at this site. 
  • Summer Program at West Parish at 10 Concord Street will have meals available for enrolled participants from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 3 at this site. 
  • O’Maley Academy at 32 Cherry Street will have meals available for enrolled participants from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 3 at this site. 
  • Camp Spindrift at 27 Atlantic Street will have meals available for participants from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 25 at this site. 

Ipswich Walk-Up Location: 

  • Ipswich Community Food Pantry at 00 Southern Heights in Ipswich will have meals available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site. 

Ipswich Enrolled Location: 

  • Winthrop Elementary School at 65 Central Street in Ipswich will have meals available for enrolled participants from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 10 through August 10 at this site.  

The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids program strives to accommodate all allergies and special diets, and to learn more about the program or inform staff of a dietary need, please call 978-283-6776 or email summermeals@foodpantry.org. 

Meals may contain choking hazards for children under the age of four. 

The Open Door Sumer Meals for Kids schedule will be updated as needed throughout the summer at FOODPANTRY.org/summermeals. 

About the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 

The Open Door is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis. 

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.  

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture  

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights  

1400 Independence Avenue, SW  

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;  

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or  

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.  

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.  

FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS!

~ todtheopendoor
From left: Summer Meals for Kids intern Rachel Ellis, Summer Meals for Kids Coordinator Eileen Campbell, intern Harley Pereira, and intern Ryn Montgomery. 

Need help getting breakfast and lunch meals for your kids over the summer break? The Open Door is here to help with Summer Meals for Kids!

Back for its 21st season, Summer Meals for Kids provides nutritious meals to local kids by visiting local neighborhoods, schools, and summer camps to make sure children have access to meals while school is out.

The Summer Meals for Kids program strives to accommodate all allergies and special diets, and to learn more about the program or inform staff of a dietary need, please call 978-283-6776 or email summermeals@foodpantry.org. 

Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times as follows:  

Gloucester Walk-Up Locations (operating from June 22 to August 26) 

  • The Open Door at 28 Emerson Avenue will serve meals Monday through Friday. Monday through Wednesday meals will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and meals will be available Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • Riverdale Park at 69 Veterans’ Way will have meals available from 12-12:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. 
  • Willowood Gardens at 40 Willowood Road will have meals available from 12-12:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. 
  • Pond View Village at 23 Lepage Lane will have meals available from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Gloucester Enrolled Locations 

  • Summer Learning at West Parish at 10 Concord Street will have meals available for enrolled participants at noon, Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from June 27 to July 28 at this site.  
  • O’Maley Academy at 32 Cherry Street will have meals available for enrolled participants from 8-8:30 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from June 27 to August 4 at this site.  
  • Kindred Gardens at 5 Dr Osman Babson Road will have meals available for enrolled participants from 9-10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from June 22 to August 26 at this site.  
  • Camp Spindrift at 27 Atlantic Street will have meals available for participants from 11:30 a.m.-1p.m., Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from June 23 to August 26 at this site. 
  • Gloucester High School at 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road will have meals available for enrolled participants Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from June 27 to August 4 at this site.  

Ipswich Walk-Up Location (operating from June 22 to August 26) 

  • Ipswich Community Food Pantry at 00 Southern Heights in Ipswich will have meals available from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.  

Ipswich Enrolled Location 

  • Winthrop Elementary School at 65 Central Street in Ipswich will have meals available for enrolled participants from 9-9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 to August 4 at this location.  

The Open Door is a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsor, a federal program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA SFSP requires a non-discrimination statement that “Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.” More information is available at FOODPANTRY.org/usda.

The Open Door Sumer Meals for Kids schedule will be updated as needed throughout the summer at FOODPANTRY.org/summermeals.