by Robin Kemp
UPDATE 3:55 p.m.: ADDS CCPS programs
UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: ADDS links to maps
Families who need help feeding their children this summer can get help at the Clayton County Public Library.
Kids ages 0-18 (and young adults ages 19-22 with a disability) can pick up free grab-and-go box dinners on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at five Clayton County Public Library branches and Kinship Care through July 30. No registration needed–just drop by for cereal, milk, fruit, and single-serve meals. YouthServ360 prepares the meals.
The locations are:
- Library Headquarters/Kinship Care Resource Center, 849 Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro
- Forest Park Branch Library, 4812 West Street, Forest Park
- Northwest Branch Library, 6131 Riverdale Road, Riverdale
- Riverdale Branch Library, 420 Valley Hill Road SW, Riverdale
- Morrow Branch Library, 6225 Maddox Road, Morrow
- Lovejoy Branch Library, 1721 McDonough Road, Hampton
The library also is serving free lunch all summer from 12 noon to 1 p.m. for children ages 0-18. You must eat the food inside the designated area and cannot take any food with you. Those locations are:
- Library Headquarters, 849 Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro (770) 473-3850
- Forest Park Branch Library, 4812 West Street, Forest Park (770) 347-0160
- Riverdale Branch Library, 420 Valley Hill Road SW, Riverdale (770) 472-8100
- Morrow Branch Library, 6225 Maddox Road, Morrow (770) 347-0170
For more information, call the local branch nearest you.

While you’re there, check out the many free learning and entertainment resources the library has to offer, like the Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program. The program runs through August 14 and offers prizes and incentives for readers of all ages. Sign up online at https://claytonpl.beanstack.org/reader365!
In addition, Clayton County Public Schools are also offering summer meals and activities.
Friday Food Pantries are back this summer, starting June 11 and running through July 23, from 12 noon until 2 p.m. The distribution is in cooperation with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other CCPS partners.
Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) will resume its Friday Food Pantries. Scheduled for every Friday, beginning June 11 through July 23, the food pantries will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Locations where you can pick up food on Fridays include:
- Lee Street Elementary, 178 Lee Street, Jonesboro
- Huie Elementary, 1260 Rock Cut Road, Forest Park
- West Clayton Elementary, 5580 Riverdale Road, Atlanta
- Riverdale Middle, 400 Roberts Drive, Riverdale

CCPS is also partnering with Healthier America to distribute meals through a new food adventure with “Waffles+Mochi” and former First Lady Michelle Obama. “Waffles+Mochi” is a new educational Netflix series for kids, featuring puppets who travel the world with Obama, exploring different foods and cultures and learning how to cook with fresh ingredients.
Thanks to Healthier Atlanta, people who come to the Friday pantries will get one meal kit and a produce bag–the equivalent of three prepared meals. The meal kits are available while supplies last and are meant for families to share the joy of cooking nutritious food together.
The meal kits will be distributed at these locations on June 11, June 18, June 25, and July 2 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.:
- West Clayton Elementary, 5580 Riverdale Road, Atlanta
- Huie Elementary, 1260 Rock Cut Road, Forest Park
- Riverdale Middle, 400 Roberts Drive, Riverdale
- Lovejoy High, 1587 McDonough Road, Hampton
On June 16, June 23, June 30, and July 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the meal kits will be handed out at:
- East Point Distribution (near Jefferson Park Rec Center), 1431 Norman Berry Drive, East Point