Tehama County libraries are providing free meals for youth from infants to 18 years old through the end of July, thanks to a Lunch at the Library grant from the California State Library. The program, which began in early summer, aims to combine enrichment activities with nutritious meals, drawing families into the library for both food and learning opportunities.
Alicia Meyer, Tehama County Librarian, explained the dual purpose: some families will come for enrichment activities and end up with a meal, while others will come for a meal and discover the library's free services. She praised the collaboration with Jaci Westbrook, Director of Nutrition Services at Red Bluff Joint Union High School District, for her passion and innovative ideas.
The libraries have expanded their usual summer reading program, which includes themed story times on Tuesdays in Los Molinos, Wednesdays in Red Bluff, and Thursdays in Corning. This year, daily enrichment activities are offered at each location every day the library is open, with meals served around 11:30 a.m.
While enrichment activities and story times are open to all ages, meals are limited to youth ages 0 to 18.
The grant also funds teen summer interns who lead activities and distribute meals, purchase materials and equipment for enrichment, and buy new books for children to start home libraries. Meyer noted that the program connects families with free services, combats food insecurity by adding a meal site, and provides paid work experience for local teens.
In the first week, the response was overwhelming, with more meals needed than anticipated. Meyer said, "We've seen new faces, issued library cards to new patrons, and adults expressed gratitude both for offering something fun for the kids and for the meals." Lunches are picked up daily from the high school and couriered to each library branch alongside book deliveries.
Meyer hopes the libraries can address food insecurity and show youth that the library is a safe space with fun, free activities. She emphasized, "By the end of summer, I'm really hoping that we are seeing more teens on a consistent basis and that they are seeing our Teen Areas as their spaces." Her ultimate goal is for more Tehama County residents to realize libraries are community hubs offering resources beyond books.
Summer interns at the Corning Library are bilingual, and Meyer hopes to attract more Spanish-speaking visitors to improve programs and collections. Additionally, PAL Mentoring will host an escape room program at the Corning branch on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m.
Free meals are available until July 30, with an end-of-summer celebration on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Meyer aims to serve 500 youth countywide, building on last year's event that drew over 360 attendees.
Library hours are: Red Bluff, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Corning, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.
to 12 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
(services in Spanish and English); and Los Molinos, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
and 2 to 5 p.m.