Many Philadelphia students rely on their schools for free breakfast and lunch during the school year. When schools are closed, finding food can be hard, especially for the 1 in 5 Philadelphia families facing food insecurity. 

During the 2019 winter break, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and other organizations will offer free meals and food resources for students. Check out the resources below to find a meal site or food pantry near you.

 

Parks & Recreation meal sites for students

Select Philadelphia recreation centers and playgrounds will provide free meals for children up to 18 years old on the following days:

  • Monday, December 23, 
  • Friday, December 27, and
  • Monday, December 30

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation will distribute the meals on a first-come, first-served basis between mid-afternoon and early evening. Please note that supplies are limited. Families can call their nearest participating recreation center to confirm hours of service.

The meals are only for children and teenagers up to 18 years old, and must be eaten on-site. The meal menus for winter recess will be:

  • December 23 – Turkey, ham, and cheese sandwich with diced peaches
  • December 27 – Sliced chicken on whole wheat with apple slices
  • December 30 – Beef, salami, and cheese sandwich with diced peaches

If adults in your family also need meals or access to food, read on for more resources.

Winter Meals at Parks & Recreation sites are federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Participating sites

12th & Cambria Recreation Center 2901 N 12th St. 19133 215-685-9780
48th & Woodland Playground 1414 S. 47th St. 19143 215-726-4483
American Legion Playground 6201 Torresdale Ave. 19135 215-685-8733
Amos Playground 1817 N. 16th St. 19121 215-685-2708
Athletic Recreation Center 1400 N. 26th St. 19121 215-685-2709
Belfield Recreation Center 2109 W Chew Ave. 19138 215-685-2221
Boyle Playground 13049 Kelvin Ave. 19116 215-685-0367
Bridesburg Recreation Center 4601-25 Richmond St. 19137 215-685-1247
C.B. Moore Receration Center 2551 N 22nd St. 19132 215-685-9755
Capitolo Playground 900 Federal St. 19147 215-685-1883
Chew Playground 1833 Ellsworth St. 19146 215-685-6596
Christy Recreation Center 728 S. 55th St. 19143 215-685-1997
Cohocksink Recreation Center 2901 Cedar Ave. 19134 215-685-9884
Columbus Square Playground 1200 Wharton St. 19147 215-685-1890
Cruz Recreation Center 6th & Master St. 19122 215-685-2759
Daniel E. Rumph II Recreation Center 100 E Johnson St. 19144 215-685-2234
DiSilvestro Playground 1701 S. 15th St. 19145 215-685-1598
Donald Finnegan Playground 1231 S 30th St. 19145 215-685-1896
Dorothy Emanuel Recreation Center 8500 Pickering St. 19150 215-685-9253
East Poplar Playground 820 N. 8th St. 19123 215-686-1786
F. J. Myers Recreation Center 5801 Kingsessing Ave. 19143 215-685-2698
Feltonville Recreation Center 231 E Wyoming Ave. 19120 215-685-9150
Ferko Playground 1101 E Cayuga St. 19124 215-685-1224
Fishtown Recreation Center 1202 E. Montgomery Ave. 19125 215-685-9885
Fitzpatrick Playground 3500 Academy Rd. 19154 215-685-9395
Fox Chase Recreation Center 7901 Ridgeway St. 19111 215-685-0575
Francisville Recreation Center 1737 Francis St. 19130 215-685-2762
Frank Glavin Playground 2600 E Westmoreland St 19134 215-685-9898
Gambrel Recreation Center 4800 Ditman St. 19124 215-685-1243
Gifford Playground 575 Tomlinson Rd. 19116 215-685-0377
Guerin Recreation Center 2201 S. 16th St. 19145 215-685-1894
Hank Gathers Recreation Center 2501 W Diamond St. 19121 215-685-2710
Happy Hollow Recreation Center 4800 Wayne Ave. 19144 215-685-2195
Hawthorne Recreation Center 1200 Carpenter St. 19147 215-685-1848
Hillside Recreation Center 201 Fountain St. 19128 215-685-2595
Houseman Recreation Center 5091 Summerdale Ave. 19124 215-685-1240
James Finnegan Playground 6801 Grovers Ave. 19142 215-685-4191
Jardel Recreation Center 1400 Cottman St. 19111 215-685-0596
Jerome Brown Recreation Center 1919 W Ontario St. 19140 267-457-8102
Lawncrest Recreation Center 6000 Rising Sun Ave. 19111 215-685-0597
Lee Cultural Center 4328 Haverford Ave. 19109 215-685-7655
Lonnie Young Recreation Center 1100 E Chelten Ave. 19138 215-685-2236
Lower Mayfair Recreation Center 3015 Robbins Ave. 19149 215-685-1227
Marian Anderson Recreation Center 740 S 17th St. 19146 215-685-6594
Markward Playground 400 S Taney St. 19146 215-685-6649
Max Myers Playground 1601 Hellerman St. 19149 215-685-1242
Mayfair Recreation Center 2990 St Vincent St. 19149 215-683-1994
McCreesh Playground 6744 Regent St. 19143 215-685-2696
McIlvain Playground 5200 Penn St. 19124 215-685-1228
McVeigh Recreation Center 400 E Ontario St. 19134 215-685-9896
Michael Palmer Recreation Center 2951 Comly Road 19154 215-685-0371
Miles Mack Playground 732 N 36th St. 19104 215-685-7654
MillCreek Recreation Center 4700 Brown St. 19139 215-685-0260
Mitchell Playground 3700 Mitchell Lane 19114 215-685-9394
MLK. Recreation Center 2101 Cecil B. Moore Ave. 19121 215-685-2733
Mt. Airy Playground 7001 Germantown Ave. 19151 215-6859297
Northern Liberties Recreation Center 321 Fairmount Ave 19123 215-685-1785
Olney Recreation Center 6001 A St. 19120 215-685-2889
Palumbo Recreation Center 725 S 10th St. 19147 215-685-1783
Papa Playground 6839 Lansdowne Ave. 19151 215-685-0141
Pelbano Playground 2138 Solly St. 19152 215-683-1975
Penrose Playground 1101 W Susquehanna Ave. 19122 215-685-2711
Piccoli Playground 4359 Caster Ave. 19124 215-685-1249
Ramp Playground 3300 Solly Ave. 19136 215-685-8746
Rivera Recreation Center 3201 N 5th St. 19140 215-685-9887
Roberto Clemente Playground 1800 Wallace St. 19130 215-685-2760
Roosevelt Playground 6455 Walker St. 19135 215-685-8754
Russo Park Playground 7321 Torresdale Ave. 19136 215-685-8747
Sayre Morris Recreation Center 5835 Spruce St. 19139 215-685-1993
Schmidt Playground 113 W Ontario St. 19140 215-685-9895
Shepard Recreation Center 5700 Haverford Ave. 19139 267-237-9991
Shot Tower Playground 131 Carpenter St. 19147 215-685-1592
Shuler Playground 3000 N. 27th St. 19132 215-685-9750
Simpson Recreation Center 1010 Arrott St. 19124 215-685-1223
Smith Playground 2100 S. 24th St. 19145 215-685-1898
Starr Garden Playground 600 Lombard St. 19147 215-685-1782
Stenton Park 4600 N 16th St. 19140 215-685-9147
Sturgis Playground 200-220 W 65th St. 19126 215-685-2877
Tarken Recreation Center 6250 Frontenac St. 19111 215-685-1226
Towey Playground 1832 Howard St. 19122 215-685-9892
Tustin Playground 5901 W. Columbia Ave. 19151 215-685-0258
Vare Recreation Center 2600 Morris St. 19145 215-685-1876
Vogt Recreation Center 6700 Cottage St. 19135 215-685-8753
Water Tower Recreation Center 209 Hartwell Lane 19118 215-685-9296
Waterloo Playground 2502 N Howard St. 19133 215-685-9891
West Mill Creek Recreation Center 5100 Parrish St. 19139 215-685-0186
Wharton Square Recreation Center 2300 Wharton St. 19146 215-685-1888
Winchester Recreation Center 2332 N. 15th St. 19132 215-685-9770
Wister Playground 4971 Baynton St. 19144 215-685-2235
Ziehler Playground 200-64 E Olney Ave. 19120 215-685-9145

Free meals for all ages

The Office of Homeless Services has a helpful list of 30+ sites serving free meals.

 

Find a food pantry

Students and families can find food resources using one of these maps. Enter your zip code to find a location near you: 

 

Philabundance fresh food distributions

Philabundance “Fresh for All” at The Salvation Army

Thursday, December 26 and January 1, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. 

5830 Rising Sun Avenue, Philadelphia PA, 19120

Phone: 215-722-544

 

Philabundance “Fresh for All” at Einstein

Thursday, December 26, 10 – 11 a.m.

5500 North Park Ave. Philadelphia PA, 19141

Phone: 215-456-7366

For more Philabundance food distribution locations in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area visit the “Fresh For All” website.

 

Philabundance Produce Distribution at Gideon Elementary

Monday, December 23 and 30, 2 – 4 p.m.

2817 W. Glenwood Ave., Philadelphia PA 19121

 

Find more resources near you at Community Schools
From healthy activities to fresh produce and more, here’s what’s happening this month across the city of Philadelphia at Community Schools.