Free Community Meals in Kansas City for Kids, Seniors and Others

With so many schools, community centers and businesses closed, there is a concern about how some groups in the community will be fed.

Here are some local school districts and other organizations that are providing FREE meals to students, seniors or others impacted by the shutdowns.

Anyone going to any of these sites should be mindful of crowding and keeping an appropriate distance. Because of federal requirements, kids need to be present at most locations to receive the meals. We’ve included links to websites or social media accounts in case you have questions or need additional assistance from a specific school district or group.

Above all, please be patient and understanding if you are utilizing these free meal options. In many cases, these “workers” are volunteers. Pretty much every group providing the meals is new to this and/or is having to make significant changes to their existing services.

We’ll add more locations as we hear about them. If you know of a place serving FREE meals during these tough times, please drop us a note at info@kansascityonthecheap.com and we’ll get it added as soon as we can.

Basehor-Linwood School District
Monday though Friday, 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Kids 18 and under in the school system can get free breakfast and lunch while school is out. Pick up is available at the following locations:

• Linwood Elementary, 215 Park St., Linwood, KS
• Basehor-Linwood Middle School, 15900 Conley Road, Basehor, KS
• BasehorLinwood High School, 2108 155th St., Basehor, KS

Parents need to complete a confidential form to begin receiving the meal service for their kids.

Belton School District
Belton, MO
Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Grab-and-go sack meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner are being provided to all Belton School District #124 students for as long as resources are available. No reservations are needed.

There are seven distribution site around Belton:

• Southfork (Clubhouse Parking Lot))
• Crown Mobile Home Park (Crown Park Road)
• Kentucky Trail Elementary (Parking Lot)
• Hargis Apts (N Chestnut)
• Cimarron Trails Park (Westover)
• Country View Park (Chula Vista)
• Belton Middle School (South Parking Lot)

Bishop Ward High School
708 N 18th St, Kansas City, KS
Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A grab-and-go method for lunch distribution is in place for all students at Bishop Ward High School. Students can come to the school’s main entrance to pickup a lunch and breakfast for the following day. They’re asked to contact Chef Rick at ratallah@wardhigh.org to confirm their participation.

Blue Springs School District
Blue Springs, MO
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bagged to-go meals for students 18 and under will be distributed at several Blue Springs school buildings. Each bag will include a lunch and breakfast item for students. Pick up can be done by car or walk-up while keeping an appropriate distance. Students should be present for meal pick-up, but parents can reach out to staff regarding extreme circumstances.

Locations include:

• Chapel Lakes Elementary
• Daniel Young Elementary
• Franklin Smith Elementary
• James Walker Elementary
• John Nowlin Elementary
• William Bryant Elementary
• William Yates Elementary
• Brittany Hill Middle School
• Paul Kinder Middle School
• Blue Springs High School and Freshman CampusMeals are also being dropped off at other locations where many BSSD families live. These drop-offs are done at special times noted in the graphic below.

Blue Valley School District 
Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students 18 and under can pick up sack breakfast and lunch meals at any of the four designated Blue Valley school district locations. No sign up is required. Distributions are done via car pick up.

Blue Valley School District Locations:

• Blue Valley Academy, 7500 W. 149th Terrace
• Overland Trail Middle School, 6201 W. 133rd St.
• Oxford Middle School, 12500 Switzer Road
• Indian Valley Elementary, 11600 Knox St.

Bonner Springs/Edwardsville Unified School District
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals are available to all students 18 and under at no cost to families. Walk-up and drive through will be set up at both locations.

Current Pick-up Locations:

• Bonner Springs Elementary – 212 S Neconi Ave, Bonner Springs, KS
• Edwardsville Community Center – 696 S 3 St, Edwardsville, KS

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City
Breakfast daily, 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Lunch daily, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Breakfast and lunch service is open to any youth under the age of 18 (Club members and non-members). Breakfast is available from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at all Club locations. Lunch service is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Families can stop by to pick up meals and eat them at home. Club leadership is reaching out to arrange for meal deliveries in special circumstances.

A list of Boys and Girls Club locations in Kansas City can be found here. For questions, contact 816-361-3600.

Crossroads Community Kitchen 
The Rieger, 1924 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Daily, 4 to 6 p.m.

Crossroads restaurant The Rieger is shutting down its traditional service. In place they will operate the Crossroads Community Kitchen serving to-go meals each day from 4 to 6 p.m. Meals are provided on a pay as you are able basis and available to anyone in the community – kids, seniors, homeless, healthcare workers,….well, you get the idea.

Those who are sick or have been exposed to people with the virus or similar symptoms are asked not to come inside. Instead, they can text 816-471-2177 so arrangements can be made to have food waiting outside for them.

Once existing inventory at the restaurant is used up, the kitchen’s operations will be dependent upon monetary and in-kind donations. Donations are accepted at the kitchen or via a Crossroads Community Kitchen GoFundMe account.

Don Bosco Senior Center 
580 Campbell St, Kansas City, MO
Daily, at least through April 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hot meals for seniors will be made available daily for pick up at the front entrance between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Seniors (60+) who  need to start getting hot lunches delivered can call MARC at 816-421-4980 to make arrangements.

The Center will continue weekday deliveries of a hot lunches through the Meals on Wheels program to all current homebound clients with plans to expand home delivery to seniors who usually come to the Center for lunch.

Donations to support this service are now being accepted by the Don Bosco Senior Center.

Fort Osage R-1 School District
Independence, MO
Monday though Friday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Free grab-and-go lunches are available for all students 18 and under through April 3. These meals can be picked up each weekday at the locations listed below. Friday’s meal will also include some food for Saturday.

Distribution Locations:

• Elm Grove Elementary, 18000 E. Kentucky Road, Independence, MO
• Cler-Mont Elementary, 19009 E. Susquehanna Ridge, Independence, MO
• Hawthorne Place Apartments, 16995 E. Dover Lane, Independence, MO
• Blue Hills Elementary, 1911 N. Blue Mills Road, Independence, MO
• Buckner Elementary, 13 S. Sibley St., Buckner, MO

Gardner Edgerton School District 
Gardner and Edgerton, KS

Free breakfast and lunch will be provided to kids 18 and younger in the district. These will be kits consisting of several meals at a time. Pick up times and locations are:

• Edgerton Elementary, 400 W. Nelson, Edgerton (US 56 car/bus loop entrance), Mondays and
  Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m.
• Wheatridge Middle School, 318 E. Washington, Gardner (east car loop entrance, access via
• Washington Street), Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and NEW! optional
  pickup for working families from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Families are asked to remain in their cars and ensure there is adequate space in their trunks to allow for the sack of meals to be placed. Meals won’t be handled through car windows to for health and safety reasons.

Grandview School District 
Grandview, MO
Daily

Kids 18 and younger in the Grandview community are eligible for free to-go meals offered by the school district. Both breakfast and lunch are available in a single pick up daily from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the following locations.

• Belvidere Elementary, 15010 White Ave., Grandview, MO
• Butcher-Greene Elementary, 5302 E. 140th St., Grandview, MO
• Conn-West Elementary, 1100 High Grove Road, Grandview, MO
• Grandview High School, 2300 High Grove Road., Grandview, MO
• Grandview Middle School, 12650 Manchester Ave., Grandview, MO
• Meadowmere Elementary, 7010 E. 136th St., Grandview, MO

Martin City K-8, 201 E. 133rd St., Kansas City, Missouri

Deliveries will also be made by buses to designated apartment complexes. More details on the locations and schedules an be found here.

Granite City Brewery (Legends Outlet)
1701 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City, KS
Monday through Friday

Kids can receive a FREE lunch of sandwich, chips and beverage. Parents can call the restaurant at 913-334-2255 and place the request. No other purchase is necessary. Orders will be brought out for curbside pickup.

Kansas City Kansas Public Schools
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools are offering lunch to those 18 and younger at four locations around Wyandotte County.. Families are asked to utilize the curbside service to help promote personal health. Those without transportation can still walk up and to get meals but will need to keep social distancing in mind.

Distribution locations are:

• Arrowhead Middle School- 1715 N. 82nd Street
• Wyandotte High School- 2501 Minnesota Avenue
• Schlagle High School – 2214 N. 59th Street
• JC Harmon High School – 2400 Steele Road

Kansas City Missouri Charter Schools

All charter schools in Kansas City, MO will provide free meal while schools are closed. Schedules and locations vary by school. A map with pickup locations can be found at the Missouri Charter Public Schools Associate website.

Kansas City Missouri Public Schools  – TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS
Kansas City, MO

FREE sack lunches and meal kits will be provided to all students enrolled in Kansas City Missouri Public Schools.
Students need to show their student ID at pickup. If they do not have the ID, they can be looked up in the system. Each child will get a packet with two breakfasts and two lunches per distribution day.

Here’s the distribution schedule:

Tuesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 26
7 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 6 p.m.

Locations:

• Northeast High School (415 Van Brunt Blvd.)
• Central High School (3221 Indiana Ave.)
• East High School (1924 Van Brunt Blvd.)
• African-Centered College Preparatory Academy-Lower Campus (6410 Swope Pkwy)

Meals can be delivered to those families in the school district that do not have transportation. More details on how to sign up for that service can be found here.

Monday, March 30 and Wednesday, April 1
7 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 6 p.m.

Locations:

• Northeast High School (415 Van Brunt Blvd.)
• Central High School (3221 Indiana Ave.)
• East High School (1924 Van Brunt Blvd.)
• African-Centered College Preparatory Academy-Lower Campus (6410 Swope Pkwy)

Food delivery is available to students with special dietary needs and to those who are homeless or enrolled in the district’s special education programs. Requests can be sent to food@kcpublicschools.org or call 816-418-3663.

Lawrence Public Schools 
Lawrence, KS
Weekdays March 17-27, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Lawrence School District is offering free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch each weekday March 17-27 for kids 18 and younger impacted by the outbreak. There is no sign-up or eligibility requirements. Families can go to any of the following five schools to pick up the free meals via a drive-thru:

• Hillcrest Elementary, 1045 Hilltop Dr.
• Kennedy Elementary, 1605 Davis Rd.
• Schwegler Elementary, 2201 Ousdahl Rd.
• Billy Mills Middle School, 2734 Louisiana St.
• Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, 1400 Massachusetts St.

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
Lee’s Summit, MO
Monday through Friday

Any child in the district 18 and under can receive a free lunch and breakfast for the next day. Drive-thru service is available on weekdays at these locations from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Trailridge Elementary, 3651 S.W. Windemere Drive
• Prairie View Elementary, 501 SE .T.odd George Parkway
• Lee’s Summit North High School, 901 N.E. Douglas St.

Drive through pick up is available from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at Lee’s Summit High School, 400 SE Blue Parkway, and from 11:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Mason Elementary, 27600 NE Colbern Road.

The district is providing delivery service to select locations in the community at varying times. See here for details.

Liberty Public Schools 
Liberty, MO
Monday through Friday

All kids 18 and younger in the Liberty Public School district can pick up a free breakfast and lunch on weekdays at the following locations during designated times. Arrangements can be made for delivery in special circumstances.

The meals are free for kids. Adults can purchase breakfast for $2 and lunch for $4.

• 10:45 to 11:15 a.m.: Ridgeview Elementary, 701 Thornton St., Liberty, MO
• 11:30 to noon: Liberty Oaks Elementary, 8150 Farley Ave., Kansas City, MO

Neighborhood Café
Waldo – 7531 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO
Downtown Lee’s Summit – 104 SE 3rd Street Lee’s Summit, MO
Daily, at least through March 27, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parents can get a FREE breakfast or lunch for their kids at Neighborhood Café in Waldo or Downtown Lee’s Summit. Just call in and mention the “School1” offer for the FREE meal. No other purchase is necessary. At this time, anything on the menu is available.

Orders can be picked up as carryout or brought out for curbside delivery.

• Waldo store phone: 816-701-6981
• Downtown Lee’s Summit store phone: 816-524-4545

North Kansas City Schools 
Kansas City, MO
Monday through Friday

Kids in the North KC School District 18 and younger can get free breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. Families can choose to pick up food via drive through at one of the high schools or opt for bus stop delivery.

Pick up is done at any of the following high schools from 1 to 3 p.m. each weekday.

• Oak Park High School, 825 N.E. 79th Terrace, Kansas City, MO
• Winnetonka High School, 5815 N.E. 48th St., Kansas City, MO
• Staley High School, 2800 N.E. Shoal Creek Parkway, Kansas City, MO
• North Kansas City High School, 620 E. 23rd Ave., North Kansas City, MO

Details for bus stop delivery can be done from 9 a.m. to noon. Find details here.

Raymore-Peculiar School District
Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Any student from the district is eligible to pick up free breakfast and lunch weekdays through April 3. To ensure an adequate supply of food, parents are asked to submit a request online by 8 p.m. the night before. 

Both meals can be picked up in the morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. eliminating the need for a second trip. Lunch only is available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Distribution is done at the following locations.

• Eagle Glen Elementary, 100 S. Foxridge Drive, Raymore, MO
• Raymore Elementary, 500 S. Madison, Raymore, MO
• Raymore Elementary, 500 S. Madison, Raymore, MO
• Peculiar Elementary, 201 E. Third St., Peculiar, MO

Shawnee Mission School District 
Monday through Friday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Kids ages 1-18 can get FREE breakfast and lunch weekdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at four different Shawnee Mission School District sites. No reservations are needed. There is a limit of one breakfast and one lunch per child present. Each breakfast will include a fruit, grain and milk. Each lunch includes a protein, fruit/vegetable, grain and milk.

Meals will be available for pick up outside in the school front drive. The Shawnee Mission School District pickup sites include:

• Comanche Elementary, 8200 Grant St., Overland Park
• Rosehill Elementary, 9801 Rosehill, Lenexa
• Shawanoe Elementary, 11230 W 75th St., Shawnee
• Hocker Grove Middle School, 10400 Johnson Dr., Shawnee