Anne Arundel County Public Schools will offer fewer locations with summer meals this year but will add “grab and go” options and weekend meals.

Jodi Risse, director of food and nutrition services, spoke at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting about where and when students will be able to get free food this summer.

“I’m always worried about the kids who can’t take meals off,” said Gloria Dent, vice president and District 1 representative on the board. “So, I was doing back flips when I heard you say on Thursday, they can pick up Friday, Saturday and Sunday meals.”

The Summer Food Service Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides free meals to children under 18 in low-income areas when schools are on break. Education agencies receive reimbursement for meals that meet USDA nutrition standards.

Although there have been cuts at USDA under President Donald Trump, a Republican, so far, the Summer Food Service Program remains intact. Nationwide, the program served a total of 136 million meals at a cost of about $547 million in 2023, according to USDA.

In 2007, when the program started, 22,877 meals were given out in Anne Arundel. By last year, that number had grown to 93,677, thanks largely to the addition of mobile sites — vans that bring meals around the county — in 2011.

Roughly half the locations are closed enrolled sites, which means only students enrolled in a summer program at that location can use them. The other half will give meals to any child between the ages of 2 and18.

Families typically pick up meals at schools, community buildings or vans. This summer there will be 51 locations, down from 71 in 2024. Risse said the changes are due to a slight decrease in participants and the need to use food workers’ time more efficiently.

“We had a school last year that only four students came to, so all summer we only saw four students,” Risse said. “So, we knew we had to look at it a little bit differently for the summer of 2025.”

Locations are selected based on whether at least 50% of students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

The USDA requires all meals to be eaten onsite unless the location is designated as rural. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the USDA allowed students to take meals off-site, and in 2021, the number of meals served peaked at more than 300,000.

Risse said families strongly prefer the option to take meals home. So, this year, the district identified rural locations in areas like Tracey’s Landing and Lothian to allow for six “grab and go” sites to help increase participation.

After 32 years with the district, Risse is retiring this year and received a standing ovation for her work at Wednesday’s meeting.

“It’s a true honor and a pleasure to serve the students in the communities of Anne Arundel County. So for that, I thank you,” Risse said.

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