Fall Meals Free for All Children at DMPS Schools

Des Moines Public Schools is excited to share we will offer a free breakfast and lunch each school day to every child in our community. Beginning Sept. 8, any child aged 1-18 is eligible to receive a school breakfast and lunch at almost any DMPS school. The offering is expected to impact thousands of children.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that it would grant the flexibility for school districts to offer no-cost meals to every child for as long as USDA funding lasts, which could be as late as December 2020.

“It’s important to DMPS and the entire community that every child has enough to eat during this significant economic downturn,” Food and Nutrition Director Amanda Miller said. “We are encouraging every family, regardless of current income or enrollment, to find the DMPS school nearest to them and join us for a grab-and-go, no-cost breakfast and lunch on school days.”

DMPS students and families with young children can pick up a grab-and-go breakfast and lunch at any DMPS elementary, middle or high school between 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. each school day. For working families, DMPS will also offer drive-thru service at six middle schools for the same meals pickup from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Students and young children do not need to be present when parents and guardians pick up meals, student IDs are not required, and meals are available at any DMPS school with the exception of Ruby Van Meter and our early childhood centers. Students do not need to travel to their current school to pick up a breakfast and lunch, they may visit the school closest to them.

The middle schools offering meal service from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on school days are Harding, Hoyt, McCombs, Merrill, Meredith, and Weeks middle schools. For a map of all DMPS schools, click here. For access to the DMPS meals daily menu, click here.

Take Home Meals Cooking Instruction