EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District will again offer free summer meals to all children 18 and younger — including those who do not attend Ephrata schools – through a mix of on‑site service and grab‑and‑go meal boxes funded entirely by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program.

The district will operate three open sites beginning June 15: on-site meals at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Ephrata High School, and a non‑congregate, drive‑thru pickup at Ephrata Middle School. All meals are free regardless of family income.

Food Service Director Alain Black said the district’s goal is simple: make sure children across the region have consistent access to nutritious food when school is out.

“We are open to anyone 18 and under … They don’t have to be enrolled in our district,” Black said. “If they’re here visiting Grandma for the summer, they can come utilize it. If they attend another district that isn’t offering this, but they still need food and they are willing to drive for it, we have open doors.”

New equipment expands meal options

Last year, the district received a $30,000 donation from United Way of King County, which funded the purchase of an Oliver Speedseal MX2‑1908E Tray Sealer. The machine has significantly expanded what the district can prepare and safely package for grab‑and‑go distribution.

“If you think about a TV dinner, it’s kind of that concept,” Black said. “It allows us to do more complex meals … like teriyaki chicken with rice or mashed potatoes.”

The sealed packaging also keeps food fresher for longer.

“It lasts more than just a day or two … they can go a few days and stuff is still staying fresh,” she said.

The district now uses the machine for its school year “fast take” meals and will rely on it heavily for summer meal boxes, Black said.

Demand continues to grow

Ephrata served about 25,000 meals last summer – a number Black said represented more than one-third of all summer meals served in Grant County, according to state training materials. This was up nearly 6,000 from the year prior.

The district expects demand to rise again this year, especially for the non‑congregate option.

“More and more people are utilizing it just because of the convenience … You come two days a week. You don’t have to come every day,” Black said.

She added that families from surrounding communities often drive to Ephrata for meal pickup.

“We have people from surrounding communities that drive to come to us … Pair it with your Walmart trip,” she said.

Reducing stigma, increasing access

Black said universal free meals during the school year have helped reduce the stigma some families once felt about seeking help.

“We’re just happy to see people. We’re happy to feed kids,” she said. “The kids that really need it are actually eating because it’s not a judgment. Everyone’s eating lunch and that is all we care about.”

With rising food costs and more children home during the day, Black said, the district sees the program as essential.

“The need is there … and we feel that we need to meet that need and be a service to the community,” she said.

    The Ephrata School District received a $30,000 donation of a tray sealer from United Way of King County last summer. The machine allows food service employees to create pre-packaged, ready-to-heat meals for students to grab.