The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is doing its part to ensure that no child is left hungry this spring break. Starting yesterday, 14 LBUSD schools began providing free lunches to students during spring break as part of an extension to their Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

This is the second year LBUSD sponsors the SFSP—a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that is intended to ensure that low-income children continue receiving nutritious meals when school is not in session.

“All of these areas and these programs are really supporting students where the enrollment at the school, the students qualify, at least 50 [percent] of them, for free and reduced price meals, so you’re looking at high need areas,” Darlene Martin, Nutrition Services Director at LBUSD, said. “[…] We want to make sure that the students do have good, complete nutrition and an opportunity to have a good wholesome meal.”

Lunches are available at both open and closed sites. Open sites are open to the public to children 18 years and younger; closed sites provide lunches to children enrolled ahead of time and are administered by the Winners Reaching Amazing Potential (WRAP) program.

Meals will vary day by day, location by location, but will include grains, fruits and vegetables, milk, meat or a meat alternative. All meals are overseen by a group of dietitians who make sure all SFSP established guidelines are followed, Martin said.

“Good, wholesome nutrition really does equip the child to be able to concentrate, study and keep their minds alert,” Martin said.

Open sites include:

  • Roosevelt Elementary: 1400 East 20th Street, Long Beach | April 4 to April 22, 11:15AM to 11:45AM
  • Smith Elementary: 565 East Hill Street, Long Beach | April 4 to April 15, 10:45AM to 11:15AM
  • Whittier Elementary: 1761 Walnut Ave, Long Beach | March 28 to April 8, 11:45AM to 12:15PM

Closed enrolled sites include:

  • Addams Elementary: 5320 Pine Avenue, Long Beach | March 28 to April 29, 11:30AM to 12:00PM
  • Burbank Elementary: 501 Junipero Avenue, Long Beach | March 28 to April 1 and April 18 to April 22, 12:00PM to 12:30PM
  • Edison Elementary: 625 Maine Avenue, Long Beach | April 4 to April 22, 12:00PM to 12:30PM
  • Grant Elementary: 1225 East 64th Street, Long Beach | March 28 to April 22, 11:00AM to 11:30AM
  • Harte Elementary: 1671 East Phillips Street, Long Beach | March 28 to April 22, 11:30AM to 12:00PM
  • Lafayette Elementary: 2445 Chestnut Avenue, Long Beach | March 28 to April 22, 11:15AM to 11:30AM
  • Lee Elementary: 1620 Temple Avenue, Long Beach | April 4 to April 22, 12:00PM to 12:30PM
  • Lincoln Elementary: 1175 East 11th Street, Long Beach | March 28 to April 15, 11:30AM to 12:00PM
  • Signal Hill Elementary: 2285 Walnut Avenue, Signal Hill | March 28 to April 15, 11:45AM to 12:15PM
  • Smith Elementary: 565 East Hill Street, Long Beach | March 28 to April 15, 12:00PM to 12:30PM
  • Stevenson Elementary: 515 Lime Avenue, Long Beach | March 28 to April 15, 12:15PM to 12:45PM
  • Willard Elementary: 1088 Freeman Avenue, Long Beach | March 28 to April 22, 12:00PM to 12:30PM