2024 Free Lunch + Play Schedule - 10:00am-2:00pm
Play for days at Free Lunch + Play, where kids come to share a meal and have fun in the sun!
Monday through Friday from 10am-2pm. Meals are provided by Portland Public Schools, Centennial School District, Parkrose School District, and David Douglas School District and adhere to the USDA Federal Lunch Program rules and regulations. Youth 18 years and under must be in person to receive meals, handwashing is required, meals must be eaten on-site, and meals may only be served during stated mealtimes. No program on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, 2024.
Language translations of the schedule will be available in late May and will be posted on this site.
SUMMER KICK-OFF EVENT
Celebrate the start of Free Lunch + Play! Enjoy a live performance featuring Ballet Papaloti performing authentic Mexican Culture and Folkloric Dance, Arts in the Park will be crafting with kids, Rose City Rollers will have free roller skating for kids (bring socks), and lots of lawn games and fun to be had! Free Lunch will be served from Noon-1:30pm or until meals run out.
Date: Thursday, June 27 Event Time: 11:30am-1:30pm
Location: McCoy Park Mealtime: Noon-1:30pm
| Location | Dates | Mealtime |
|---|---|---|
| NORTH PORTLAND | ||
| Columbia Park: N Woolsey Ave + N Winchell St | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Irving Park: 875 NE Fremont Street | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Kenton Park: N Delaware Ave and N Kilpatrick St | June 24-Aug 16 | 12-1:30pm |
| McCoy Park: N Newman Ave and N Newark St | June 24-Aug 16 | 12-1:30pm |
| Peninsula Park: 700 N Rosa Parks Way | June 24-Aug 16 | 12-1:30pm |
| St Johns Park: 8427 N Central St | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| NORTHEAST PORTLAND | ||
| Alberta Park: NE 19 Ave and NE Jarrett St | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Khunamokwst Park: 5200 NE Alberta St | June 24-Aug 16 | 12-1:30pm |
| Montavilla Park: NE 82 Ave and Glisan St | June 24-Aug 16 | 12-1:30pm |
| EAST PORTLAND | ||
| Gateway Discovery Park: 10520 NE Halsey | June 24-Aug 23 | 11-11:45am |
| Lents Park: SE 92 Ave and SE Steele St | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Lincoln Park: SE 135 Ave and Mill St | June 24-Aug 23 | 12:30-1pm |
| Luuwit View Park: NE 127 Ave and Fremont St | June 24-Aug 23 | 12:15-1pm |
| Raymond Park: SE 118 Ave and SE Liebe St | June 24-Aug 23 | 12-12:30pm |
| Ventura Park: 460 SE 113 Ave | June 24-Aug 23 | 12-12:30pm |
| Verdell Burdine Rutherford : 1599 SE 167 Ave | June 24-Aug 23 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Wilkes Park: NE 154 Ave and NE Beech St | June 24-Aug 23 | 11:30am-1pm |
| SOUTHEAST PORTLAND | ||
| Creston Park: 4454 SE Powell Blvd | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Essex Park: SE 76 Ave and Center St | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Mt. Scott Park: SE 72 Ave and SE Ramona St | June 24-Aug 16 | 12-1:30pm |
| SOUTHWEST PORTLAND | ||
| Holly Farm Park: 10819 SW Capital Highway | June 24-Aug 16 | 11:30am-1pm |
| Stephens Creek Crossing Apt: 6715-6816 SW 26th | June 24-Aug 16 | 12-1:30pm |
Mobile Lunch + Play Schedule - 10:30am-2:30pm
The Mobile Lunch + Play program travels to parks and apartment complexes in East Portland to provide free meals and recreation activities to kids two days a week from 10:30am-2:30pm. Days vary, see the schedule below. No program on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, 2024.
| Location | Dates | Days | Mealtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Park School: Under the covered shelter | 6/27-8/23 | Thurs, Fri | 12-1:30pm |
| Arbor Glen Apartments: 2609 SE 145 Ave | 6/25-8/21 | Tues, Wed | 12-1:30pm |
| Bellrose Station Apartments: 7901 SE 92nd Ave | 6/24-8/22 | Mon, Thurs | 12-1:30pm |
| Eastgate Station Apartments: 100 NE 120 Ave | 6/24-8/23 | Mon, Wed | 12-1:30pm |
| Vine Maple Apartments: 177 SE 146th Ave | 6/25-8/23 | Tue, Fri | 12-1:30pm |
2024 Program Partners - More Opportunities to Play!
We team up with over 25 program partners to bring even MORE play to Free Lunch + Play sites! Program partners include Arts in the Park, Multnomah County Library, Portland Opera, Rose City Rollers, and more! The 2024 Program Partner Event schedule will be posted in mid-June.
Free Lunch + Play
Click on the video below to get a taste of the Summer Free For All's Free Lunch + Play program!
Commonly Asked Questions
Question: When will the 2024 Free Lunch + Play schedule be available?
Answer: The 2024 Free Lunch + Play schedule will be available online in April and in print in early June 2024.
Question: Who do I contact to receive translated versions of the 2024 Summer Free For All Schedule?
Answer: The 2024 Free Lunch + Play schedule will be available online in April and in print in May. To be added to our distribution list for 2024, please email alicia.hammock@portlandoregon.g… and include what languages you are interested in and if you'd like a printed version or a digital version.
Question: How old do you have to be to get a free meal?
Answer: Free meals are given to ages 18 and under.
Question: Can I take the free lunch and leave the Free Lunch + Play area to eat it?
Answer: Free Lunch + Play meals are required to be eaten on-site in the designated Free Lunch + Play area per the USDA Federal guidelines.
Question: Do you have to be present to receive a meal?
Answer: Yes, anyone receiving or purchasing a meal must be in person to receive a meal. This means they must wash and dry their hands, receive the meal in person, and eat lunch at the site.
Question: Can I pick-up a lunch before or after the stated mealtime for the park?
Answer: Lunches may only be distributed by staff during the designated mealtimes for the site that are approved by the Oregon Department of Education and adhere to the Oregon Health Authority rules for safe food practices.
Question: Can my child take two lunches?
Answer: No, per USDA Federal guidelines, each child may receive one lunch. Sites will have a "No Thank You Table" with parts of lunches that people don't want, and youth can take what they want from that space during the mealtime service hours for the site.
Question: If a site has extra lunches at the end of their meal service time, what happens to the extra meals?
Answer: In 2023, Summer Free For All Free Lunch + Play donated 7,850 extra meals.
Question: Why do the mealtimes vary from park to park for the Free Lunch + Play Program and are they not all at the same time?
Answer: Free Lunch + Play partners with four different school districts for the USDA Summer Meal Program. Logistically, it is not possible to have all the meals delivered and served at the same time at 20+ sites daily. Staggered mealtimes provide families with options to attend a time that works for their family.