MEALS FOR KIDS
AND TEENS ARE AVAILABLE ALL SUMMER LONG!
Latest Updates:
Register now for SummerPalooza! This summit is intended for schools and community organizations planning to operate a Summer Nutrition Program next year and for community partners who advocate for and support summer meals. Registration will close November 5, 2024, or when registration is full. Click to learn more about SummerPalooza!
Apply for the 2024 Summer Nutrition Champion Awards! The NCDPI School Nutrition team and the Carolina Hunger Initiative encourage all sponsors to consider applying to one of the North Carolina Summer Nutrition Champion Awards. Sponsors may be self-nominated or nominated by a third party such as a community partner. This is an opportunity for you to show your successes from summer 2024! Click to learn more about the 2024 Summer Nutrition Champion Awards.
🌞Learn more about USDA’s new SUN Summer Nutrition Programs. These include SUN Meals, SUN Meals To-Go, and SUN Bucks. Click to learn more.
Summer nutrition sites for kids in NC have stopped serving for 2024. Families can begin checking back in the spring for information on 2025 sites.
THANK YOU to the school nutrition professionals, community partners, state agencies, and many others who made summer nutrition a success this year!
Note: Most summer meal site information is only available late-May through August in North Carolina, which is when most K-12 schools are closed for summer break. The meal site list is updated weekly. Meal site information might not appear on the texting hotline results unless the meal site is currently open.
How to Find Meals for Kids Near You:
Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304
Use the new NC Site Finder Map: Click Here!
Check your local school’s website or social media for the latest info
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can receive free summer meals?
Children and teens, ages 18 and younger, are eligible to receive free summer meals. - Where are free meals offered?
Free summer meals are available at more than 2,500 locations in North Carolina. Use the NC Site Finder Map, from the NC Department of Public Instruction, to locate summer meal sites near you! Summer meal sites are safe places for kids and teens to go, such as schools, faith-based facilities, camps, parks, libraries, and community centers. - Do I need to apply to receive free meals for children?
Parents and guardians do not need to apply to the Summer Nutrition Program to receive free summer meals for their children. - Are registration or ID required?
No registration or ID is required to receive free meals for children. - When are free meals offered for children?
Free nutritious meals are available June through August each year when traditional school is out.
Contact Information
For questions about the Summer Nutrition Programs in North Carolina, contact the Summer Meals Team at the NC Department of Public Instruction:
summernutritionprogram@dpi.nc.gov
childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov
For questions about this website or marketing support for summer meals, contact the Carolina Hunger Initiative team:
carolinahungerinitiative@unc.edu
This site is a collaboration between the NC Department of Public Instruction and the Carolina Hunger Initiative at UNC-Chapel Hill.
