Summer Eats Looks Good on You: Waltham Serves Up Free Haircuts with Lunch

Windows down driving to Waltham Common, you could hear the Summer Eats kick off party long before you saw the big yellow banners. The air was full of bubbles, music, and laughter. It was impossible not to notice all the kids running around, barefoot on the warm grass and smiling ear to ear.

And how could they not be? On every corner of the common, there were memories to be made. Dancing with the DJ, racing down the giant inflatable slide, battles with balloons twisted into swords. Kids sitting in the shade eating lunch with their families without a care in the world. There was even an ice cream truck giving away free scoops!

When asked if her family had been to Summer Eats before, one mom said:

“This is our first time! I saw that this was happening in a community newsletter and it seemed like fun. We’ll definitely be back!”

Summer Eats is available to all families in communities which can be found at hundreds of sites all over Massachusetts during summer break. A free meal awaits any child to drop in at any site. And a crowd pleaser at any site is the Spin the Prize Wheel set up at Project Bread’s booth.  Older siblings picking up younger ones so they can reach. Kids jumping up and down in line, antsy for their turn to win a prize. It’s truly remarkable how excited kids get over a bouncy ball or a sheet of stickers!

Summer Eats takes the worry out of summer for entire families. Without having to worry about the cost of food or activities, parents don’t have to say “no” to a good time.

On this special day, sponsored and organized by the Boys & Girls Club, the whole Waltham community showed up to make this kickoff event feel like a carnival to kick off Summer Eats season. With so many opportunities for fun, it’s hard to think of a fan favorite. But one line that never seemed to end was the free haircut booth.

Project Bread’s supporters understand how important it is for communities to take the lead in addressing their own needs. Summer Eats brings people together and engages local businesses. But most importantly, it keeps kids and teens fed while free school meals are on pause for summer break.

Knowing that school meals save families an average of $1,500 per child per school year, it’s no surprise that so many of the parents and adults were smiling ear to ear. Not only were their kids eating nutritious meals for free, but they also had the chance to play with friends and engage with their community in a safe, natural way. 

Brought to Massachusetts families by Project Bread in partnership with the Massachusetts' Department of Education (DESE) and local school and community meal providers, Summer Eats sites across the state provide free meals to all kids and teens, no identification or registration required. Caregivers can rest easier knowing meals are off their hands, and use that time and energy to focus on everything else on their to-do list.

Your generosity to Project Bread keeps summer cool for families by making it possible for them to access reliable healthy food for their kids and teens during the hot summer months.

Over a half a million kids in Massachusetts eat free lunch at school daily during the school year. Over the summer, the most expensive time of year for many, it’s up to their families to pick up the extra cost. And with one week of camp costing about the same as a month’s rent in Boston, it’s up to parents and caregivers to get creative and fill the gaps.

Last summer, Qualtrics conducted a study of over 2,000 parents on behalf of Credit Karma to assess the financial strain that summer break puts on families. Here’s what they found:

• 61% of parents with children under 18 say it feels even more expensive to raise kids in the summer months

• More than one-third (35%) of parents have to adjust their summer work hours to care for their children because the cost of childcare is too expensive

• 29% of parents are unable to save money during the summer due to childcare costs

Keep in mind, these findings are from before the recent cuts to federal spending that are leaving over a million people in Massachusetts alone at risk of going hungry. For years, American families and households have been fighting to stay on top of their finances amidst rising prices for everyday essentials like food, gas, and housing. Now that Congress has failed to protect food access for hard-working Americans, entire communities are feeling the heat.

Fortunately, thanks to support from people like you, Summer Eats sites are popping up all across Massachusetts to fill this gap in nutrition, entertainment, and school-year achievement for all kids and teens, all at no cost to families. 

Located in places where communities already gather, Summer Eats brings kids and their families together. Libraries, farmers markets, school playgrounds, even town gathering points like the Waltham Common— all filled to the brim with smiling children, relaxed parents, and community partners who’re stoked to be included in the fun.

Toward the end of the event, kids gathered around the DJ stage for the announcement of who won a PS5 that a kind partner in Waltham donated for this event. Kids were adorably clutching raffle tickets and memorizing their numbers, shifting back and forth on their feet in anticipation.

Kids were whooping and cheering, or throwing their hands up in dismay, as grownups from the Boys & Girls Club read out the numbers of the winning ticket. And then, the cutest thing happened: the girl who ended up winning the PS5 said she didn’t really want it, she just wanted to play. And so the whole thing started again! When one lucky little boy finally won, his whole face turned into a smile. Holding the box up above his head like a hard-earned trophy, you could see the core memory being made.

In addition to reliable access to nutritious meals for kids and teens, Summer Eats is a magical place where communities come together to make every day an adventure for students. Activities and games that engage their bodies and minds. The chance to see their friends or even meet new ones. Making memories with their families without worries. And it wouldn’t be possible without generous donations from people like you!