Manatee School District to offer free summer meals. Here are the details

Monday marks the start of free meals for children 18 or younger, regardless of their families’ income.

Summer BreakSpot, a program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is carried out by the School District of Manatee County each year. This year’s program is especially important to the families affected by COVID-19, which stripped people of their jobs, salaries and food security.

Students can expect to find sandwiches, burgers or wraps in their bag, along with fruit, vegetables and milk, according to a news release.

“This program was designed to ensure that children have access to nutrition during the summer, giving them an opportunity to return to school healthy, happy and ready to learn,” it states.

The district has dozens of meal locations in Palmetto, Bradenton, Myakka City and Sarasota. Mobile sites will operate at various times between Monday and Friday, while drive-thru sites will continue operating from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. between Monday and Thursday.

On Thursdays, the district will offer a package of meals at its drive-thru locations, providing enough food (breakfast and lunch) for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“Please note that locations and times are subject to change,” the district said on its website. “Check back frequently for the updated site list or visit SummerFoodFlorida.org or call 211 for updated information.”

Mobile bus No. 1, Monday through Friday

• Turner Chapel — 11 a.m. to noon, 317 11th St. Dr. W., Palmetto.

• Palmetto Youth Center — 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., 501 17th St. W., Palmetto.

• Avesta Treesdale Apartments — 2 to 2:30 p.m., 993 26th St. E., Bradenton.

Mobile bus No. 2, Monday through Friday

• Southeast High School — 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., 1200 37th Ave. E., Bradenton.

• Bradenton Village Apartments — noon to 12:30 p.m., 101 15th Ave. Cir. W., Bradenton.

• Bradenton Aquatic Center — 1:00 to 2 p.m., 1119 13th St. E., Bradenton.

Mobile bus No. 3, Monday through Friday

• River Trace Apartments — 11 to 11:30 a.m., 2710 River Trace Cir., Bradenton.

• Manatee County Sheriff’s Office — noon to 12:30 p.m., 600 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton.

• Avalon Square Apartments — 1 to 1:45 p.m., 3506 14th St. W., Bradenton.

• Pride Park — 2 to 2:30 p.m., 815 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton.

Caboose No. 1, Monday through Friday

• Manatee Mobile Home Park — 11 a.m. to noon, 2204 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton.

• Citywalk Apartments — 12:30 to 1 p.m., 2019 Fifth St. W., Bradenton.

• Pine Village Apartments — 1:30 to 2 p.m., 5631 11th St. E., Bradenton.

Caboose No. 2, Monday through Friday

• Manatee Performing Arts Center — 11:30 a.m. to noon, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton.
• City Stop — 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., 807 13th Ave. E., Bradenton.
• City Life Church — 2 to 2:30 p.m., 1300 17th Ave. W., Bradenton.

Drive-thru sites, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Abel Elementary — 7100 Madonna Place, Sarasota.
• Ballard Elementary — 912 18th St. W., Bradenton.
• Bashaw Elementary — 3515 Morgan Johnson Road, Bradenton.
• Bayshore High — 5401 34th St. W., Bradenton.
• Blackburn Elementary — 3904 17th St. E., Palmetto.
• Buffalo Creek Middle — 7320 69th St. E., Palmetto.
• Daughtrey Elementary — 515 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton.
• Haile Middle — 9501 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.
• King Middle — 600 75th St. NW, Bradenton.
• Kinnan Elementary — 3415 Tallevast Road, Sarasota.
• Lakewood Ranch High — 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton.
• Manatee Elementary — 1609 Sixth Ave. E., Bradenton.
• Miller Elementary — 601 43rd St. W., Bradenton.
• Myakka Elementary — 37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City.
• Oneco Elementary — 5214 22nd St. Court E., Bradenton.
• Palm View K-6 School — 6025 Bayshore Road, Palmetto.
• Palmetto Elementary — 1540 10th St. W., Palmetto.
• Palmetto High — 1200 17th St. W., Palmetto.
• Prine Elementary — 3801 Southern Parkway, Bradenton.
• Samoset Elementary — 3300 19th St. E., Bradenton.
• Seabreeze Elementary — 3601 71st St. W., Bradenton.
• Tara Elementary — 6950 Linger Lodge Road, Bradenton.
• Tillman Elementary — 1415 29th St. E., Palmetto.

For more information about the Summer BreakSpot program, contact the district’s Food and Nutrition Services Office by calling 941-739-5700 or visiting manateeschoolfood.net.