This summer, families across Orange County can access free meals for children and teens — thanks to local school districts and community partners working together to ensure no child goes hungry during the break.
From June through early August, participating school districts are offering free lunches at select locations Monday through Friday on a first-come, first-served basis.
Some districts, like the Fullerton School District, are working with their nutrition services teams to serve students across school campuses. Others, including Saddleback Valley Unified and Orange Unified, are partnering with local Orange County Public Library branches to reach more students in their communities.
OC Public Libraries is once again hosting its Lunch at the Library program at select branches in Garden Grove, Lake Forest, Tustin and beyond. In addition to enjoying a nutritious meal, young visitors can look forward to guest appearances each week from beloved storybook characters like Paddington Bear.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the California Department of Education, these summer meal programs are open to all children and youth ages 18 and under with no registration or documentation required.
Interested families are encouraged to check with their local school district or library branch for serving dates, times and locations.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Fifteen local student artists have curated their own exhibit at the Orange County Museum of Art on the adolescent experience, as part of a pilot program teaching OC youth about arts administration and the practice of curation.
- After serving the Santa Ana Unified School District for the past five years as deputy superintendent of educational services, Dr. Lorraine Perez has been selected as its next superintendent, effective July 1.
- This week, California lawmakers approved the 2025-26 state budget, which maintains funding for schools while investing in literacy, teacher training and transitional kindergarten.
- Sixteen cadets from Sunburst Youth Academy got to take a sneak peek at the real-life magic behind Disneyland’s popular attractions as part of a STEM field trip provided by the Imagination Campus Program.
- Hermosa Drive Elementary School students helped local muralist Carla Roque paint messages signifying kindness and compassion onto a campus wall as part of the Fullerton School District’s broader efforts to create welcoming environments for all.
- For the second straight year, California competitors have topped the medal count at the National History Day finals earlier this month — with Orange County students earning four of those medals alongside three finalist honors and one special award.
- Approximately 171 cadets — including 15 who earned high school diplomas — recently graduated from Sunburst Youth Academy’s Class 35 after completing five-and-a-half months of physical training, life skills development and academic progress.
- Orange County elementary school teachers Jeanette Aguilera and Megan Lee were highlighted by their alma mater, Cal State Fullerton, for being named 2026 OC Teacher of the Year finalists, and for demonstrating compassion and connectedness with their students and families.
- For the third consecutive week, Santa Ana Unified has suspended its summer field trips due to ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity affecting surrounding neighborhoods. The Orange County Register reported district administrators plan to revisit the decision Monday.
- With school out of session, children are less likely to get the same mental health support they receive during the school year. EdSource has put together a quick guide to help parents discuss their child’s feelings and offer strategies to cope with fear and anxiety amid immigration enforcement around their communities.
- The Seal Beach Police Department held an active shooter training drill at McGaugh Elementary School that saw officers clear out classrooms while Orange County Fire Authority first responders triaged staged victims earlier this week.
- The Los Angeles Times reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has ordered California to remove specific materials from its comprehensive sexual education curriculum or potentially lose federal grants that help fund the program.
- Spring View Middle School students practiced emergency braking, obstacle navigation and traffic awareness during a 70-minute e-bike safety course led by the Huntington Beach Police Department.
- As women’s flag football increases in popularity, Santiago Canyon College is set to launch its own flag football program this spring to show support to its student athletes and enhance community engagement.
- A new Public Policy Institute of California poll has found that 67 percent of California residents believe public schools should prioritize civic education to better equip students to be engaged citizens.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.