Free Summer Meals for Kids

Elijah enjoys a healthy lunch at school

Free summer lunches are available in your community. You can find them at community centers, park districts, schools, and churches.

What are summer food service programs?

Summer food service programs are free meals for kids and teens up to 18 years old. They make meals available to kids when school is out in June, July, and August. You may also hear them called free summer meal programs or free summer lunch programs.

Kids and teens can just show up during the scheduled meal hours and receive a free meal. Some summer programs provide breakfast and lunch. There may also be summer activities or learning programs available during mealtimes. You don't need to fill out paperwork or show proof of income.

Are summer meal programs still running during the COVID pandemic?

Yes, but to keep our communities safe, there will be some changes at your local meal sites. Some summer meal programs offer:

  • Grab-and-go meals so kids can follow social distancing guidelines

  • Pre-packed breakfasts and lunches or groceries for multiple days
  • Pick up meals at school meal distributions
  • Meal delivery to bus stops, public housing, or other central locations
     

Check with your summer meal site for up-to-date safety info.

How do I find a 2022 summer meal program in my community?

Summer meal programs can be difficult to find so here are three easy ways to find your nearest free meal site.

  • Text: You can find meal programs near you by texting the word FOOD to 304-304 thanks to our friends at No Kid Hungry. You’ll get a message with nearby locations. Data and message rates may apply.

  • Call: Calling the USDA Hotline at 1-866-348-6479 is another great way to find free summer food service programs in your area.
  • Ask Your Local Food Bank: Search by zip code or state using the food bank locator and contact the food bank nearest you. Even if the food bank looks far away, they often work with meal programs closer to your home.

Find Your Local Food Bank

 

How are the summer meal programs funded?

Some summer meal programs are funded by the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Food banks then purchase and deliver these meals to existing youth programs within your community. In Summer 2020, the Feeding America network of food banks served over 10 million meals to more than 195,000 children through the Summer Food Service Program.

Other summer meal programs are operated by local food banks including the Backpack Program and the School Pantry Program through the generous support of individual and corporate donors. 

What can I do to help?

Summer meal programs can be hard to find, and many families don’t know they’re available. The best way to help is by sharing information with your neighbors about how they can get free meals during the summer if they are in need. If your family visited summer meal programs, share your story and let people know it’s okay to need help sometimes.

If you’re interested in doing more to help fight summer hunger, you can: