DOE summer meal program returns

The Department of Education’s grab-and-go meal program returned this week and will run throughout the summer.  Photo via Mayor Bill de Blasio/Twitter

By Jacob Kaye

A popular pandemic-era program designed to feed New York City families in need was re-launched this week for the summer season.

The Department of Education’s Grab-and-Go meal service began on Monday, June 28. Families can pick up breakfast and lunch at public schools across Queens Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

No identification, registration or documentation is required to receive a meal.

The meals, which range from site to site, are meant to be taken home and must be consumed outside of the school.

In addition, the DOE has partnered with community groups to bring take home meals to churches and community centers throughout the city.

Kosher meals will be served at select sites including I.S. 250 in Kew Gardens Hills, P.S. 253 in Far Rockaway and Forest Hills High School in Forest Hills.

Vegetarian and halal meals will be available at all sites, although sites in areas with a large Muslim population will offer expanded halal meal service.

The expanded halal sites include PS 280 in Jackson Heights, PS 64 in Ozone Park, PS 100 in South Ozone Park and at Jamaica schools MS 137, JHS 8, IS 238, PS 182, MS 358, PS 131, PS 95, PS 217, Thomas Edison High School and JHS 210.

The sites will be closed citywide on July 5 and July 20, in observance of Independence Day and Eid-al-Adha respectively.

For a full list of sites, visit schools.nyc.gov.