During the school year, many students rely on the breakfast and lunch provided by cafeterias all throughout the city. According to Feeding America, these meals are sometimes the only food they get each day.
Their stats show that one in five kids faces hunger in Arizona every day.
Luckily, local school districts are providing free meals for students this summer. It’s not just for students either — all kids are welcome.
Tucson Unified School District
Beginning on Tuesday, May 27, TUSD will provide free meals to children 18 and under at select schools and community locations. Other schools and non-school community sites will begin serving free meals on June 2.
Elementary K5, K8, and Middle Schools:
TUSD High Schools:
All of the free summer meal locations can be found at meals.tusd1.org.
Marana Unified School District
MUSD is offering a few options for local kids this summer.
Through MUSD’s Summer Food Program, select school locations and Marana Cares Mobile will provide free and healthy breakfast and lunch meals to all children 18 years and younger. Enrollment in an MUSD school is not required.
Summer Food Program Schedule:
- Butterfield Elementary Cafeteria | 3400 W. Massingale Rd.
- June 9 – June 26
- Monday-Thursday
- Breakfast: 7:45 – 8:30 a.m.
- Lunch: 11:15 a.m.  – 11:45 a.m.
- DeGrazia Elementary Cafeteria | 5051 W. Overton Rd.
- June 9 – June 26
- Monday-Thursday
- Breakfast: 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
- Lunch: 11:00 a.m.  – 11:30 a.m.
- Estes Elementary Cafeteria | 11280 W. Grier Rd.
- June 9 – June 26
- Monday-Thursday
- Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:00 a.m.
- Lunch: 11:30 – 12:00 p.m.
- Ironwood Elementary Cafeteria | 3300 W. Freer Dr.
- May 27 – July 23
- Monday-Friday
- Breakfast: 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
- Lunch: 12.00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Picture Rocks Elementary Cafeteria | 5875 N. Sanders Rd.
- June 9 – June 26
- Monday-Thursday
- Breakfast: 7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
- Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Quail Run Elementary Cafeteria | 4600 W. Cortaro Farms Rd.
- June 9 – June 26
- Monday-Thursday*
- Breakfast: 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
- Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Roadrunner Elementary Cafeteria | 16651 W. Calle Carmela
- May 27 – June 27
- Monday-Friday
- Breakfast: 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
- Lunch: 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Marana Cares Mobile
The Marana Cares Mobile will be zippin’ around this summer and parking at two different locations. The Marana Cares Mobile is also active during other times of the school year.
Marana Cares Mobile:
- May 27 – July 25
- Monday-Friday
- 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Picture Rocks Fire Department 7341 N. Sandario Rd.
- 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: Roadrunner Elementary School 16651 W. Calle Carmella
For more information about other free meal programs, visit azhealthzone.org.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
