2026 Summer Free Meals & Grocery Help Guide for Modesto Families

Summer can be fun—but it can also mean higher grocery bills when school meals are unavailable. To help local families, there are free summer meal programs for kids and grocery benefits available for eligible households.

This guide will be updated as more summer meal sites are announced, so be sure to bookmark this page and share it with local family and friends who may need this resource.

SUN Bucks: Summer Grocery Benefits for Eligible Families

Eligible families may receive $120 per child through SUN Bucks (also known as Summer EBT) to help with grocery costs during summer break.

Some children will automatically receive SUN Bucks, but not all students are automatically enrolled—even if they receive free meals at school.

Your child may qualify if they:

• Receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal (at or below 185% of the federal poverty level)
• Are experiencing homelessness
• Are in foster care
• Are part of a migrant family
• Have an approved School Meal Application or Universal Benefits Application on file

Application Deadline

June 30, 2026

How to Apply

Families who are not automatically eligible may still qualify by submitting a benefits application through their child’s school.

Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/5c848yun

SUN Bucks Helpline: 1-877-328-9677

If you’re unsure whether your child qualifies, contact your school office for assistance.

Free Summer Meals for Kids in Modesto

Children and teens 18 years old and younger can receive free meals this summer.

There is no registration, paperwork, or income requirement for on-site meal programs.

Modesto City Schools Summer Meal Site

Location:
2410 Janna Ave, Modesto

Dates:
June 2–June 30, 2026
Monday through Friday

No meal service: June 19, 2026

Meal Times:
Breakfast: 7:30 AM–8:30 AM
Lunch: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM

Breakfast & Lunch

June 9–July 2

• M. Robert Adkison Elementary — 1824 Nadine Ave.
• Virginia Parks Elementary — 1021 Moffett Rd.
• Westport Elementary — 5218 S. Carpenter

June 3–July 2

• Alice N. Stroud Elementary — 815 Frazine Rd.

Lunch Only

June 2–July 31

• Coffee/Claratina Park — 4400 Highlights Way
• Crommelin Park — 2400 Crommelin Ave.
• Davis Park — 2701 College Ave.
• Downey Community Park — 1200 Brighton Ave.
• Dryden Park Golf Course — 925 Sunset Ave.
• East La Loma Park — 2001 Edgebrook Dr.
• Everett Park — 1548 Mount Vernon Dr.
• Fairview Park — Modoc & Tuscon Ave.
• Garrison Park — 1733 Teresa St.
• Mancini Park — 1204 River Rd.
• Mark Twain Park — 1201 California Ave.
• Marshall Park — 440 Sutter Ave.
• Oregon Park — 1600 Oregon Dr.
• Pine Ridge Apartments — 1301 Richland Ave.
• Red Shield Center — 1649 Las Vegas St.
• Riverside Park — 420 N. Riverside Dr.
• Robertson Road Park — 1001 Hammond St.
• Roosevelt Park — 801 W. Orangeburg Ave.
• Sharp Park — 1900 Torrid Ave.
• Sonoma Park — 1316 McGuire Dr.
• St. Salazar Park — 2017 St. Salazar Circle
• Sunrise Village — 433 S. 7th St.
• Wesson Ranch Park — 1001 W. Union Ave.

June 2–June 25

• Somerset Middle — 1037 Floyd Ave.
• Stockard Coffee Elementary — 3900 Northview Dr.

Empire

Lunch Only

June 9–July 2

• Empire Community Park — 10 I Street

Newman / Patterson Area

Breakfast & Lunch

June 2–July 31

• Diablo Grande — 9300 Vintner Cir., Patterson
• Fisherman’s Bend River Campground — 26836 River Rd., Newman
• Mustang Peak Village Apartments — 1118 M St., Newman
• Pioneer Park — 1358 R St., Newman
• Rolling Hills Apartments — 2110 Prince St., Newman
• Sherman Park — 330 Cinnamon Teal Way, Newman

June 2–June 30

• Hunt Elementary — 907 R St., Newman
• Orestimba High — 707 Hardin Rd., Newman
• Yolo Junior High — 901 Hoyer Rd., Newman

July 6–July 31

• Hurd Barrington Elementary — 838 Eucalyptus Ave., Newman

Important Information

• Children must be present to receive a meal
• Meals must be eaten on site
• Open to all children ages 18 and under

Why These Programs Matter

For many families, school breakfast and lunch programs help stretch the household food budget throughout the year. Summer meal programs and SUN Bucks help fill that gap while school is out.

Even if you’re unsure whether your family qualifies, it’s worth checking.

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