Salem Summer Eats Program Tops 10K Meals In First 4 Weeks

SALEM, MA — The expanded Salem Public Schools Summer Eats program served more than 10,000 meals during the first four weeks of the season as organizers look to reach more students and families — both from Salem and beyond — than ever before in 2025.

"We are over what our participation was last summer, but we know there is more of a need based on the amount of meals we serve during the school year," SPS Food and Nutrition Services Director Michaela Short said. "We want more Salem families, and even those families in surrounding areas, to know that this wonderful resource is available to them."

Short said the meals served through July 18 put the program on pace to exceed last year's total of 25,992 meals served over the course of the summer. This year, the program has expanded to nine weekday lunch sites and dinner for families Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m at Mary Jane Park.

All children up to age 18 are eligible for the free lunch program at the following sites:

• Salem Common, 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
• Palmer’s Cove, 11:00-12:45 p.m.
• Collins Cove, 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
• Loring Towers, 11:00-11:30 a.m.
• Rainbow Terrace, 11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
• Salem Public Library, 1:40-2:00 p.m.
• Forest River Pool, 12:20-12:50 p.m.
• Winter Island, 2:10-2:30 p.m.
• Salem Heights, 1:00-1:30 p.m.

This year's program began two weeks earlier than last year and will include 15 more days of service. The program concludes on Aug. 22.

There is pick-up basketball and volleyball as well as lawn games and theme-related arts and crafts, each day.

"We strive for our program to be more than a free meal," Operations Director Robby Armstrong said. "We want our families to feel welcome and to have a fun, enjoyable experience."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)