LA PLATA, Md. — Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will provide free meals to children ages 2 to 18 through its Meals on the Move and Lunch on Us programs this summer, running from June 23 to August 7, 2025. The Meals on the Move program, operated by a CCPS food truck, will distribute cold breakfasts and lunches at three rural sites, while the Lunch on Us program will offer hot meals at six school sites, ensuring access to nutrition during the summer break.
The Meals on the Move program, launched in 2024, targets rural areas as designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). From June 24 to August 7, the CCPS food truck will visit three locations on specific days, providing meals on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. The schedule includes Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School (9275 Ironsides Road, Nanjemoy) on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m., Mattawoman Beantown Park & Ride (3220 Mattawoman Beantown Road, Waldorf) on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m., and Free Gospel Church of Bryans Road (3180 Livingston Road, Bryans Road) on Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m.
For CCPS students, a parent or guardian must be present at Meals on the Move sites and provide identification via the ParentVue app’s “Student List” screen or a recent CCPS report card, per new USDA requirements. Non-CCPS students, homeschoolers, or out-of-county children can receive meals after a parent or guardian completes a one-time registration form, with all information kept confidential. The program allows families to pick up meals for multiple days, supporting those in rural Nanjemoy, Waldorf, and Bryans Road areas.
The Lunch on Us program, operating Monday through Thursday from June 23 to August 7, provides hot meals at six school sites for on-site consumption. No identification is required, but children must be present and eat in the school cafeteria. The sites and times are Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School (12:30-1:30 p.m.), Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School (12:30-1:30 p.m.), J.C. Parks Elementary School (12:30-1:30 p.m.), J.P. Ryon Elementary School (12:30-1:30 p.m.), Eva Turner Elementary School (12:30-1:30 p.m.), and Henry E. Lackey High School (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). Sites are closed on Fridays.
CCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) staff will manage both programs, ensuring efficient distribution and compliance with USDA guidelines. The Meals on the Move program requires additional steps due to its mobile nature, and families can find more details on the CCPS website. Both initiatives aim to address food insecurity, particularly in rural communities, by providing accessible, no-cost meals to children during the summer.
