Oxford School District restarts summer meals for all children 18 and younger

Oxford families who are counting grocery dollars this summer have a straightforward option at Central Elementary School: free breakfast and lunch for any child 18 and younger, with no proof of income and no residence requirement.

The Oxford School District restarted the program June 1 and said it will run through July 17, with breakfast served weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meal site is Central Elementary School, 409 Washington Avenue in Oxford, making the school once again a daily stop for parents, grandparents and caregivers trying to keep children fed on a steadier schedule while school is out.

The district says children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and it does not provide transportation to the meal site. Adults can also buy meals, with breakfast priced at $2 and lunch at $4. All meals are prepared to U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines, tying the local program to federal child nutrition standards that also shape summer meal service across Mississippi through state child nutrition oversight.

Dan Westmoreland, the district’s Child Nutrition Director, said the program is aimed at children whose families need summer support most. “We are always about getting kids fed with the nutrition they need during the summer months. This is an opportunity for us to feed anyone who lives in the area. That’s what I love about this program,” Westmoreland said.

Oxford School District announced the free meals May 27 and emphasized that the service is open to all kids ages 18 and younger, not just district students. That broader reach matters in Lafayette County, where summer meal access can fill a gap left when school cafeterias close and families have to stretch budgets across childcare, work schedules and rising food costs.

The program is also not new to Oxford. The district offered summer meals last year as well, with a 2025 run that stretched from June 2 through July 23 and included dine-in or carry-out options. Families looking for other meal sites or hours can use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Meals Site Finder, which lists nearby locations, directions and contact information for approved sites serving children 18 and younger at no cost.