Pasadena Public Library Participates in Lunch at the Library

Tim McDonald, Director, Libraries, and Information Services, announced that Pasadena Public Library is participating in Lunch at the Library this summer for the fourth year. Lunch at the Library is a project of the California State Library supported with funds from the State of California that provides free, healthy meals to children ages 0 – 18.

To address food insecurity over the summer months while promoting literacy, Pasadena Public Library is offering children and teens activities and books, to add to their home libraries, along with free lunches. In addition to visiting lunch sites throughout Pasadena, lunch will be served at Jefferson Branch Library Monday – Friday, June 3 – Aug. 9 (except July 4), from noon – 2 p.m.

Since the program began on Monday, June 3, Jefferson Branch Library has served a steady stream of families. In June 861 people attended the program with 511 meals served.

Lunch at the Library provides vital support to the community with nutritious meals, critical literacy interventions and meaningful connections. Free lunches and activities are available on a first-come, first-served basis, as supplies last. Activities provided during the lunch period include STEAM projects, crafts, Urban Homestead, nutrition, wellness, movies, games, music, or play activities.

Special activities include:

• Mindful Mondays – Family yoga, breathing or relaxation exercises, mindful arts & crafts,
• Pop-Up Tuesdays – Special guided programs such as circuit cards, book clocks or music,
• STEAM Wednesdays – Preschool STEAM for the little ones and Innovation Lab activities for ages 10 and up, such as 3D printing, wood or plastic carving, coding, or robotics,
• Homestead Thursdays (June 6 – July 25, except July 4) – Gardening and sustainability provided by Urban Homestead, for ages 5 – 18,
• Freestyle Fridays – Movies and popcorn, free take-home activities.

Some workshops may have age recommendations. For a full list of activities, visit: Pasadena-Library.net/Kids/Lunch-At-The-Library/.

Jefferson Branch Library, at 1500  E. Valla Street, is the temporary home of Pasadena Central Library’s Children and Teen Services Division while Central Library is closed. For more, call (626) 744-8046.