[From City of Pasadena photo]
The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis as supplies last, with no registration required and no questions asked about household income or eligibility. Lunches are distributed alongside activities that vary by day and branch — STEM projects, art and craft sessions, homesteading projects, nutrition demonstrations, music lessons and sensory play for younger children. Family health and wellness services are also offered onsite on a rotating schedule.
The program is part of a statewide and federal summer food initiative that channels meals to communities where school cafeterias close during summer months, and it operates in partnership with local food providers. Pasadena’s two participating branches were chosen for the demographic reach of the surrounding neighborhoods, which have higher concentrations of children eligible for free and reduced-price school meals.
Library staff note that the activities are as central to the program as the food. Several recent participants have moved from casual drop-ins to regular attendees, particularly during summer breaks when the library doubles as a cool, supervised space during the hottest hours of the afternoon.
The program runs weekdays only. No identification is required to receive a lunch, and parents and caregivers are welcome to accompany children.
Lunch at the Library will run weekdays starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Jefferson Branch Library, 1500 E. Villa St., and the Villa Parke Branch Library, 363 E. Villa St., both in Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 744-6510 or visit https://www.google.com/url?q=
