Bellingham families with children 18 and under have a free resource coming their way this summer: Bellingham Public Schools will once again operate its summer food program, offering no-cost breakfast and lunch at two locations across the city starting June 29, 2026. The program runs Monday through Thursday through July 23.
The two locations for summer 2026 are Parkview Elementary School at 3030 Cornwall Avenue and Whatcom Middle School at 810 Halleck Street. At Parkview, free breakfast is served from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. and free lunch from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. At Whatcom Middle School, breakfast is available from 9 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. No registration or ID is required to receive a meal; children simply show up during the service window.
The program is open to all children 18 years of age and younger, as well as students in Community Transitions and other district programs. It operates under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program, a federally funded initiative that reimburses schools and nonprofits for providing nutritious meals to children during the months when school is out and cafeteria meals are not available.
Summers can be a difficult stretch for families who rely on free and reduced-price school meals during the academic year. For many Bellingham children, those meals represent a reliable daily nutritional anchor. The summer food program helps fill that gap, ensuring continuity of access through July while also giving working parents one less expense to manage during the break.
In addition to the meal sites, eligible students will receive $120 for groceries this month through Washington state's SUN Bucks program. Families can get more information about SUN Bucks at sunbucks.dshs.wa.gov. The benefit is distributed electronically and can be used like an EBT card at participating grocery stores across the state.
Families who need additional food support beyond the school sites can also access the Bellingham Food Bank, which operates multiple distribution locations throughout the week. The food bank serves residents regardless of income or documentation and does not require proof of residency.
Bellingham Public Schools is also operating under modified office hours during the first weeks of summer. School offices will be open June 15 to 18 from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. The District Office maintains regular hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All offices are closed Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth. Starting June 22, elementary and middle school offices close to the public for the summer, while high school offices maintain limited hours through early August.
Families with questions about the summer food program can contact Bellingham Public Schools directly during office hours. The program runs Monday through Thursday only; there are no meals available on Fridays at either location.
