Fort Worth’s Independent School District is offering free hot lunches during Spring Break. Here’s what you need to know.
In the United States, one in five children face food insecurity, meaning they’re not sure when they’ll have their next meal or where it’ll come from. School lunch programs help ease this issue for millions of students, but winter, spring, and summer breaks can oftentimes leave those same kids without the food they so desperately need. To combat this issue, Fort Worth’s Independent School District is offering free, hot meals at eight of its campuses from March 17-19. Any child 18 years of age and younger will receive free lunch through this initiative.
Fort Worth ISD noted that children do not have to be enrolled in its free or reduced lunch programs to receive free spring break meals, nor do they need to attend school at any of these eight locations. All kids need to do is show up to one of the select campuses and eat their meal on-site. It’s unclear as to what exactly will be served, but contact information is available here if you have any questions regarding meals and potential allergens.
These schools will offer free meals during spring break
From March 17-19, free hot lunches will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following schools:
- Western Hills Elementary – 2805 Laredo Drive, 76116
- Edward J. Briscoe Elementary – 2751 Yuma Avenue, 76104
- Leadership Academy at Maude I. Logan – 2300 Dillard Street. 76105
- Christene Moss Elementary – 4108 Eastland Street, 76119
- Diamond Hill Elementary – 2000 Dewey Street, 76106
- Manual Jara Elementary – 2100 Lincoln Avenue, 76164
- Clifford Davis Elementary – 4300 Campus Drive, 76119
- Alice D. Contreras Elementary – 4100 Lubbock Avenue, 76115
Fort Worth’s Independent School District previously offered meals over the Thanksgiving break and over summer break last year. Additional information regarding whether free meals will be offered by ISD during the summer this year has yet to be announced.
Other local meal programs
Families in need of meal assistance beyond these school lunches can find food, resources, and support at the Tarrant Area Food Bank at three locations:
- Tarrant Area Food Bank -2600 Cullen Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107
- TAFB North – 306 N. Loop 288, Ste.113, Denton, TX 76209
- TAFB West – 112 Winners Circle, Weatherford, TX 76087
Home deliveries are available, and TAFB also distributes items to 13 local food pantries. Click here to access the organization’s interactive map to see if there’s a food pantry closer to you than those three designated TAFB locations. Workers at the food bank are also taking appointments with individuals who need help with their SNAP applications. This link will help you set up a time to meet with someone from TAFB about your benefits.
In addition to food banks, Fort Worth runs its Summer Food Program each year. This initiative offers free meals to children between the ages of one and 18. They do not need to be enrolled in any sort of program to receive these lunches and snacks over the summer. Numerous locations are open Monday-Friday to distribute food—click here to see which community centers plan on operating the Summer Food Program in 2026.
