Grant Funds Available to
Support Nutrition Services & Programming for Children and Youth
Fall 2025, Winter 2025/2026 and/or Spring 2026
California Library Association’s Lunch at the Library Partnership Project has grant funds available for California public libraries to support meal and nutrition services for children and youth. Working in partnership with the California State Library's Lunch at the Library program, CLA’s Partner Project provides grants to complement and extend the State Library’s Summer Lunch at the Library grant activities by providing funding for fall, winter and spring meal and nutrition programming.
**To submit an application and for further information visit the application portal HERE.**
Which California public libraries can apply?
California public libraries that received 2025 Lunch at the Library funding and/or plan to apply for 2026 Lunch at the Library summer funding that are interested in expanding the scope of their meal related programming and services into fall, winter and/or spring ‘25/’26
Why Apply?
CLA’s Lunch at the Library Partner Project grant opportunity supports the Lunch at the Library program and helps connect more families with the USDA Summer Food Service Program as well as USDA year round CACFP and out-of-school time meals and snacks. Additionally, the project strengthens library and food bank partnerships and supports efforts that connect more families to both nutritious food and library programming and services year-round.
The program supports California public libraries establishing themselves as key community food and nutrition resources and/or distribution hubs throughout the year. Funds support efforts to establish libraries as essential partners, distributors and/or promoters of nutrition and meal information and food resources to address nutrition and food insecurity year round, resulting in increased summer meal attendance and awareness when food insecurity is at its highest, during the critical summer months.
When?
Applications for Fall 2025 and Winter 2025/26, and/or Spring 2026 funding will be accepted on a first come first served basis while funds last, or through February 17th, 2026 (whichever occurs first.) Funds are limited and will be awarded to benefit the greatest number of library jurisdictions. Libraries applying by September 30th, 2025 will receive funding consideration priority.
What activities can funds be used to support?
Funding can be used to support a wide range of activities including:
● Library Meal Sites and Enrichment Programming & Supplies: Jurisdictions serving fall ‘25, winter and/or spring ‘25/’26 meals and/or snacks and providing enrichment programming at library sites, and/or book distributions to connect children, teens and families to library programs. Farm to Table programming that connects children, teens, and families with locally sourced, sustainable food, and hands-on food education activities as part of a library or community meal/snack program is encouraged.
● Pop-Up Libraries at Community Meal Sites: Jurisdictions taking pop-up library programming out to community meal sites outside of regular school hours or during breaks (fall, winter and/or spring ‘25/’26).
● Food Bank Distribution Partnerships: Partnerships with food banks that support the distribution of produce and grocery staples at the library or at other food bank distribution sites and that provide enrichment programming and connections to library resources and services (fall, winter and/or spring ‘25/’26).
● Youth Development: Jurisdictions providing teens with workforce readiness skills as they assist with meal programs at library and/or community meal sites.
● Library Outreach and Promotion Efforts: Funds can innovative efforts to promote and connect more children, teens, and families with nutritious meals and food resources year round and during the summer at library meal/snack sites.
For details on unallowable costs visit the guidelines section of the application.
How do I apply for CLA’s Lunch at the Library Partner Project funding?
Complete a California Library Association’s Lunch at the Library Partnership Project Funding Application.
**To submit an application and for further information visit the application portal HERE.**
Please contact CLA’s Lunch at the Library Partner Project team at latl@cla-net.org with any questions you have or ideas that you’d like to share. We are looking forward to hearing from you!