This story reflects summer meal services available in 2022. For a breakdown of 2023 services, click here.

With schools out for the summer and rising inflation making trips to the grocery store more expensive, many parents are looking for resources to help keep their kids’ bellies full over the next few months. Some Nevada school districts are offering summer meal programs to help.

District leaders have seen some confusion from parents regarding these programs, as they differ from the grab-and-go meal services many schools offered during pandemic-related shutdowns over the last two years.

“We are fielding a lot of parent calls because last year, during the pandemic … we were sending meals home with the students,” said Lory Hayon, a registered dietician for Clark County School District. “But currently, with the current federal regulations, we are … moving back to a normal food service program.”

Instead of picking up meals to take home, in most districts, students will have to eat their meals on-site as a part of a summer school program or through a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded Summer Food Service Program.

In Clark County, free summer meals will be available to children and teens who are 18 or younger regardless of whether they are enrolled in the district. In some districts, service will be more limited, but there may be food banks or other programs filling in the gaps. 

We’ve gathered information about some of those resources here. More county and program information will be added as we receive it. If we missed anything, reach out and let us know at [email protected].

Carson City

The Carson City School District will be serving free meals to summer school students and at the Washoe Tribe this year. Summer school students will receive breakfast and lunch if they are enrolled in classes.

Lunch will also be served daily, Monday through Friday, from  June 13 to Aug. 5 for all children ages 2 to 18 at the Washoe Tribe. Membership is not required. Meals will be served from noon to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

• Carson Colony at 2900 S. Curry St.
• Stewart Colony at 465 Clear Creek Ave.
• Dresslerville Colony at 828 Mehu St.

All meals must be eaten on site, and prior registration is not required.

The Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada is also serving breakfast and lunch daily, Monday through Friday, from June 6 to Aug. 5. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. Meals won’t be served on July 4.

Churchill County

The Churchill County School District is participating in the Summer Food Service Program and will provide meals to all children on a first-come, first-serve basis. Prior registration is not required.

A list of sites and times is available here.

Clark County

Some Clark County School District schools are offering free summer meals to children and teens who are 18 or younger regardless of whether they are enrolled in the district. Individuals over the age of 18 who have a disability as determined by a state or local public educational agency, such as students with an individualized education program, are also eligible. 

About 67 percent of the district’s more than 305,000 students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, but youth do not need to qualify under that metric to get a summer meal.

Unlike to-go food programs offered during school closures, Lory Hayon, a registered dietitian for the district, said these meals must be eaten on site. Prior registration is not required, and students will not need to present an ID, come with an adult or go to their home school to receive a meal.

More information, including locations and times, can be found here. 

Douglas County

The Douglas County School District will be providing free meals to all children and teens under 18 this summer, Monday through Friday, from May 31 to July 29.  Meals must be eaten on site and will not be available for pickup. No meals will be served July 4. Prior registration is not required.

More information, including locations and times, can be found here.

Elko County

In Elko County, only Southside Elementary School, Owyhee Combined School and West Wendover Elementary School will be serving meals. Those meals will only be available during the month of June. Breakfast is served at 7:45 a.m., and lunch is served at noon. Prior registration is not required.

Esmeralda County

Esmeralda County School District is not offering summer meal services this year. Children and teens in the Northern Nevada region may be able to access meals through the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

Humboldt County

The Humboldt County School District will only be serving meals to students going to summer school this year.

The Boys and Girls Club of Winnemucca will be serving lunches to all children and teens ages 18 and younger in Vesco Park. Meals will be available Monday through Friday, from noon to 12:30 p.m., from June 13 to Aug. 19.

Lander County

The Lander County School District is not offering summer meal services this year.

Lincoln County

The Lincoln County School District is not offering summer meal services this year, but the Lincoln County Coalition is providing meals and snack kits every Thursday from June through August. Prior registration is not required.

Pickup locations and times for those meals are:

• Caliente Elementary School from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
• Panaca Post Office from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Pioche Courthouse parking lot from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Lyon County

The Lyon County School District will start community meal pickups on June 22. Meals will be available Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the following schools:

• Fernley Elementary School
• Silver Stage Elementary School
• Silverland Middle School
• Yerington High School

Pickup stations will be located outside of the building, and families can come by to pick up breakfast and lunch. Prior registration is not required. On Mondays, two days’ worth of meals will be distributed, and on Wednesdays, three days’ worth of meals will be distributed.

Nye County

The Nye County School District will be providing free meals to all children ages 2 to 18 this summer. Meals must be eaten on site and will not be available for pickup. Prior registration is not required.

More information, including locations and times, is available here.

Pershing County

The Pershing County School District is not offering summer meal services this year, but the Frontier Community Action Agency (FCAA) is partnering with Americorps to offer free lunches.

Lunches will be served daily, Monday through Friday, from noon until 1 p.m. at the courthouse park in Lovelock to all children and teens ages 18 and younger, regardless of income. No prior registration is required.

Storey County

The Storey County School District is not offering summer meal services this year. Children and teens in the Northern Nevada region may be able to access meals through the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

Washoe County

The Washoe County School District is only providing meals for students going to summer school this year. Children in the Reno-Sparks area, as well as Fernley and Schurz, will be able to access meals through the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

Three Square Food Bank

Three Square Food Bank is also providing free meals from May 31 to Aug. 5 to Clark County students ages 18 and younger who rely on free and reduced-price school meals. The meals will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis at the bank’s Meet Up and Eat Up sites, which include parks, recreation centers and libraries. Three Square will also bring meals to select apartment complexes. 

More information, including locations and times, can be found here.

Food Bank of Northern Nevada

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is offering free meals to children and teens ages 2 to 18 at more than 30 sites in the Reno-Sparks area, as well as Fernley and Schurz, which is on the Walker River Indian Reservation. Meals begin on June 6 in Fernley and June 13 in Reno/Sparks and Schurz. Meals are available most weekdays and must be eaten on site. 

More information, including locations and times, can be found here.