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Where You Can Get Free Kids Meals in the NYC Area During Coronavirus

Where You Can Get Free Kids Meals in the NYC Area During Coronavirus

Many restaurants and organizations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, and Long Island are stepping up to offer free meals to kids during the COVID-19 crisis.


Updated June 17: As a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, there are restaurant closings, store closings, and, of course, school closings in New York. While everyone is affected by these sudden changes to our neighborhoods brought on by COVID-19, the kids who rely on Meal Assistance Programs to eat lunch at school everyday no longer have access to this service. Additionally, businesses are experiencing mass layoffs leaving many families without a paycheck. In response, many restaurants and organizations in the New York area are stepping up to help families get free meals for kids during COVID-19.  

Free Kids' Meals on Long Island

Salvatore's of Elmont

Salvatore's of Elmont is giving free pizza lunches to kids who rely on school for free lunch everyday. The owner, Vito Cortesiano is also distributing free homemade pizza dough to families in need so kids can make their own pizza at home.

DaVinci's Gourmet Market

This market in Franklin Square is offering free lunch for school aged children via curbside pickup.

Sergios Italian

Kids eat free all week for take out and to go orders at Sergios in Massapequa.

Vincents Clam Bar

With the purchase of every adult entree, one child 11 and younger eats free from the kids menu for curbside pickup and delivery orders. This offer is available Monday-Thursday.

Lareira Restaurant

In addition to a variety of discounts and specials, Lareira in Mineola is offering one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree for delivery and takeout. 

Mercato

This Italian spot in Massapequa is offering kids eat free with the purchase of two take-out adult entrees. They are also offering a variety of 'happy hour at home' deals.

Sotto Sopra

In this difficult time, Sotto Sopra in Massapequa is offering free pies to families who are financially struggling as a result of COVID-19. 

Branches Long Island

This nonprofit that focuses on community outreach packs boxes of food every weekend to deliver to families. If you are in need of a meal, you can contact Branches by emailing [email protected] or by joining their Facebook group

 

Free Kids' Meals in Westchester

Blue Moon Mexican Cafe

To help out during these trying times, Blue Moon Mexican Cafe is extending its Tuesday Nights Kids Eat Free to every night. You are eligible for one free children's meal with each adult entree purchased and each kids meal will come with wikki sticks. Your little ones can use the wikki sticks to enter Blue Moon Mexican Cafe's art contest. The winner will get a free taco family dinner. 

Yukas Latin Fusion

Kids eat free on Sundays from this Croton-on-Hudson spot for take out or delivery with the purchase of one adult meal (minimum $15 purchase).

 

Free Kids' Meals in Brooklyn

The Bergen

This Crown Heights seafood spot (in collaboration with Brooklyn United Music and Arts Program) is offering free lunch and dinner to families who need it every single night. The lunch menu is a turkey or peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chips and juice everyday and the dinner menu changes. Lunch bags are offered from 11:30am-1:30pm and dinners are offered from 4:30pm-6:30pm.

The Gather Inn Again

With the help of donations from members of the community, The Gather Inn Again is preparing food to be delivered by neighborhood kids three days a week. The donations help pay for the food and also keep employees working.

Free Kids' Meals in Manhattan

Red Rooster Harlem

Red Rooster Harlem is offering free meals to families in need Monday-Saturday from 12pm until all meals are distributed.

Free Kids' Meals in Queens

 Farine Baking Company

This Jackson Heights spot is offering small bags filled with free food items for those in need as well as free meals to children 12 and younger with purchase of an adult entree. Kids can choose from a burger, hot dog, mac and cheese, and chicken fingers with a mixed salad from 11am-9:30pm, Monday-Friday.



Chicky's

Chicky's in Jamaica is offering free daily lunch to underprivileged children from 12-2pm daily.

Queens Comfort

This American comfort food spot in Astoria wants to offer help to Queens residents by opening up its supply lines and resources to the community. On its Instagram account, Queens Comfort encourages people that need help sourcing food and supplies to email Donnie at [email protected].

Avli The Little Greek Tavern and Kafe

The Bayside location of this Greek restaurant is offering free grab and go meals to the community for pickup from 10am-12pm, 3-5pm. Delivery arrangements can be made for elderly residents. Call 718-224-7575 or email [email protected] for more information.

 

LIC Relief and Several Long Island City Restaurants

Several Long Island City restaurants are partnering with LIC Relief to offer free nutritional meals on weekdays for students and families impacted by school closures and those who are unable to source a daily meal. LIC Relief sets up tables with meals in front of neighborhood restaurants from 12-2pm. Participating restaurants include Piatto, Vernon Grille, Centro Italian Kitchen, Little Chef, Little Cafe, Bella Via, and Manducatis Rustica

 

Free Kids' Meals Throughout NYC

The New York City Department of Education has been offering three free meals for New Yorkers every weekday at more than 400 sites across the city since the start of the coronavirus and is now extending the program throughout the summer. All NYC children are eligible to pick up three free meals Monday through Friday, 7:30am-11:30am and adults from 11:30am-1:30pm at locations throughout the city. You can use the site lookup tool to find the free meal location site nearest you. And, families of children in public school in NYC will receive $420 per child that can go toward groceries and provide coronavirus relief.

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Food Benefits

Families of children in public school in NYC who would have received free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Act can receive up to $420 for each eligible child that can go toward groceries and provide coronavirus relief. If your family receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and/or Temporary Assistance benefits and you have school-age children, you will automatically receive P-EBT food benefits for each eligible school-age child in your household, which will automatically be issued to your family’s current EBT card. 

Beginning Saturday, June 27, all New Yorkers ages 18 and under will be eigible for free breakfast and lunch seven days a week. 

The follow restaurants are also offering free food in some capacity:

TGI Friday's

Use the code FREEKIDS on online orders of $20 or more for a free kids entree.

Burger King

Free kids' meals are available with any purchase for take-out or drive-thru made on the Burger King app.

McDonald's

Select McDonalds locations are providing free meals to kids. Call your local restaurant for more information.

Moe's 

With every purchase of adult entree receive a free kid's entree. 

Olive Garden

Olive Garden's Buy One, Take One promotion is now available as a car side ToGo offer. Choose one hot entree (minimum $12.99) and get the option of a second free take-one meal (spaghetti and meat sauce, fettuccine alfredo, cheese ravioli, or 5 cheese ziti al forno).

Smoothie King

Any kid younger than 12 will get a free 12 oz. kid's smoothie with the purchase of any 20 oz. smoothie on the Smoothie King Rewards app.

On the Border

While school systems are on break, On the Border is offering 2 free kids meals with the purchase of one adult entree to-go. 

Panera Bread

With every order from Panera on Long Island or in Queens, Panera is including a Baker's in Training Kit for kids to decorate a rainbow cookie. Each kit comes with one sugar cookie, two cups of icing, a plastic knife, and colored candy drops.
 

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Melissa Wickes

Author: Melissa Wickes is a graduate of Binghamton University and the NYU Summer Publishing Institute. She's written hundreds of articles to help New York parents make better decisions for their families. When she's not writing, you can find her eating pasta, playing guitar, or watching reality TV. See More

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