Latest Updates:
Summer 2025 is almost here! We are happy to share that SUN Bucks is back in 2025, bringing much needed grocery-buying benefits to families in North Carolina during the summer months. To learn more about SUN Bucks, visit ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks or attend one of our upcoming webinars.
SUN Meals and SUN Meals-To-Go will soon be resuming across the state! Stay in touch and continue to check our Find Meals page to locate free meals for kids near you during the summer months.
🌞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:
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 ID is needed for kids to eat meals in person if the sites are open to the general public. However, organizations sponsoring SUN Meals To-Go may ask for parents to register for meal pick up or delivery. - 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:
childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov
For questions about this website or marketing support for summer meals, contact the Carolina Hunger Initiative team:
This site is a collaboration between the NC Department of Public Instruction and the Carolina Hunger Initiative at UNC-Chapel Hill.
