Afterschool Meals | Washington, DC, Area | Capital Area Food Bank
Skip to main content

Many families in our region can’t afford to eat dinner every night. We’re helping make sure the children of those families still get the food they need.

Filling in the evening meal gap

Many children who rely on free or reduced cost school breakfasts and lunches may not have dinner waiting at home. To make sure these kids are getting an evening meal, we participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, providing healthy, kid-friendly meals to public recreation centers, residential community centers, and other locations hosting afterschool programs in DC and throughout the region. When kids receive the food they need to thrive, they’re positioned for better health, greater academic success, and a lifetime of better outcomes.

Find afterschool meals near you

We provide afterschool meals and snacks to kids throughout our region. Menus feature wholesome ingredients like baked chicken, fresh salad, and whole wheat bread. To find an afterschool meal location near you:

Visit our Get Help Page

Host an afterschool meals program

If you have a site you believe is appropriate for our afterschool meals program, please contact Alexis Lahr: alahr@capitalareafoodbank.org.

To qualify as a host for afterschool meals, your site must:

  1. Have a safe place to serve children (ages 18 and under)
  2. Serve a minimum of 20 children at least four days a week
  3. Provide afterschool enrichment for children (ex: tutoring services, arts and crafts, recreation, science club)
  4. Have at least two adults available to lead meal service
  5. Be eligible under federal guidelines (we can help you determine this)
  6. Have an internet connection, computer and/or tablet, a working refrigerator, and sinks to wash serving utensils.
  7. Meet local health and fire safety regulations

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Help Us Feed Kids After School

Kids need nutritious meals throughout the day to ensure they learn and grow. Through a simple donation, you can help make sure area kids don’t go without important meals during the school year. Every unrestricted dollar you donate will provide 2.5 meals that make a difference for children and families.

Donate