No school, no lunch: Free summer meals for kids return to Allentown and Quakertown

Free lunches for school-age children return to Allentown and Quakertown this week as St. Luke’s University Health Network launches the eighth year of its Summer Meals Program, beginning Thursday in Allentown.

The program aims to fill the nutrition gap that opens when school cafeterias close for the summer. St. Luke’s Community Health Department created the initiative after the network’s Community Health Needs Assessment found that more than half of students in the Allentown and Quakertown Community school districts qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the academic year.

The need extends beyond the two districts. Nearly one in five Pennsylvania children experienced food insecurity in 2023, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study.

“When school is out, many children lose a consistent, reliable source of nutritious meals, putting their health and well-being at risk during the summer months,” said Dr. Rajika Reed, the network’s vice president of community health. “Providing access to healthy lunches during this time is essential to ensure children continue to grow, learn and thrive, while also supporting families.”

In Allentown, free grab-and-go meals will be available at Star Community Health’s Sigal Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 11 through Aug. 20. Pickup begins at noon.

In Quakertown, meals will be served Mondays through Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. at Free Fall Action Park, 670 S. Main St., from June 15 through Aug. 28.

The Quakertown site will also send children home each Friday with non-perishable food for their families, and St. Luke’s said participating families will be connected to the Quakertown Farmers Market for fresh, local produce.

“Programs like Summer Meals are critical to bridging the gap when school is out and ensuring children continue to receive the nutrition they need every day,” said Dr. Alycia Walty, chief medical officer of Star Community Health. “Proper nutrition is fundamental to a child’s growth and development, supporting not only physical health but also cognitive and emotional well-being.”

The Allentown program is sponsored by Hatzel & Buehler Inc., which St. Luke’s said has supported the effort since its inception. Penn Community Bank has funded the Quakertown program since it began.

According to St. Luke’s, those contributions, along with gifts from other private donors, allow the program to offer a variety of healthy meal options, weekend nourishment, financial literacy education and other activities.

Families looking for additional food access points in Allentown, Quakertown or other areas can find resources through St. Luke’s Community Health Department.