Submitted by Pioneer Human Services
The Tacoma commercial kitchen for Pioneer Human Services’ Food Services business is extra busy this summer as staff prepare approximately 500 sack lunches a day for the Parks Tacoma Summer Meal at the Playgrounds program. The free lunch program goes through August 28. 2026 and serves youth 18 and under at 14 parks Monday through Friday – from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM.
Pioneer’s Food Services business operates three high-quality commercial kitchens across Washington state. In addition to the Parks Tacoma lunches, the Tacoma kitchen provides fully cooked meals to many of Pioneer’s residential programs, affordable meal options to other non-profit organizations, and prepared food items to restaurants. Pioneer’s Food Services business also provides work experience for justice-involved individuals and people in recovery.
Lana Tourigny, Pioneer’s director of Food Services, shared, “We’re very grateful for our partnership with Tacoma Parks. Summer can be especially challenging for families who rely on school meals, and we’re proud to help bridge that gap by providing nutritious sack lunches. Every meal represents our shared commitment to ensuring children have access to healthy food throughout the summer.”
Many families are finding themselves in challenging situations with rising food prices and having to face financial insecurity. With schools closed for the summer and no longer providing weekday breakfast and lunch, the Parks Tacoma program fills a needed gap. Nearly 60% of children enrolled in Tacoma Public Schools qualify to receive free or reduced lunch and the selected park sites prioritize areas with higher need identified by the district.
Summer Meal Locations
- Eastside Family Resource Center (Next to Roosevelt Park), 3569 E Roosevelt Ave
- Franklin Park, 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave
- Lincoln-Eldridge Park, 801 S. 37th St
- Manitou Park, 4408 American Lake Blvd
- Northeast Tacoma Playground, 5520 29th St. NE
- Oakland Madrona, 3114 S Madison
- Sawyer Tot Lot, 3315 S Sawyer St
- SERA/STAR Center, 3873 S 66th St.
- South Park, 5044 S Warner
- Stewart Heights Park, 5715 Reginald Gutierrez Ln
- Titlow Park, 8425 6th Ave
- Verlo Playfield, 4321 McKinley Ave
- Wapato Park, 6500 S. Sheridan Ave
- Wright Park, 501 South I St.
About Pioneer Human Services
Pioneer Human Services is a nonprofit social enterprise working to eradicate mass incarceration through innovative social entrepreneurship. Pioneer empowers justice-involved individuals to overcome adversity and reach their full potential through a broad range of more than 35 diversion, reentry and employment-focused programs across Washington state.
Unlike many nonprofits, Pioneer also operates businesses that intentionally create jobs and opportunity for people who face barriers to employment while generating revenue to sustain and expand its mission.
Learn more here.