Summer Food Service Programs for Youth In Need (2018)

During the school year, 22 million children receive free or reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. When school is out during the summer months, however, only 3.9 million receive free or reduced-price meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. This gap of 1 in 6 summer to school-time participants is the result of various barriers experienced only during the summer, including a lack of access to meal sites, insufficient program awareness, and limited resources when schools are closed.

This deficit often leaves out black, brown and poor youth who rely on school for basic nutrition. But hope is not lost.

There are a number of food banks that operate summer food service programs during the summer that seek to close this gap. These programs help meet the needs of low-income children and their families who face hunger in the summer by providing them with nutritious meals and snacks when school is not in session.

Click on the image below to find out programs in and around your area:

In addition to the clickable map above, there Feeding America also has resources for each state. You can find additional programs within your state by clicking here.

During the school year, 22 million children receive free or reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. When school is out during the summer months, however, only 3.9 million receive free or reduced-price meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. This gap of 1 in 6 summer to school-time participants is the result of various barriers experienced only during the summer, including a lack of access to meal sites, insufficient program awareness, and limited resources when schools are closed.

This deficit often leaves out black, brown and poor youth who rely on school for basic nutrition. But hope is not lost.

There are a number of food banks that operate summer food service programs during the summer that seek to close this gap. These programs help meet the needs of low-income children and their families who face hunger in the summer by providing them with nutritious meals and snacks when school is not in session.

Click on the image below to find out programs in and around your area:

In addition to the clickable map above, there Feeding America also has resources for each state. You can find additional programs within your state by clicking here.