MEALS FOR KIDS
AND TEENS ARE AVAILABLE ALL SUMMER LONG!
Summer 2023 UPDATES for Current and Prospective Meal Sponsors
New outreach materials are now available for summer 2023! Check out the latest Ray-themed designs from the NC Department of Public Instruction, with banners, yard signs, stickers, and more — plus ordering suggestions. Also available is the expansive No Kid Hungry online summer outreach toolkit.
Changes are on the way for summer meals. A permanent Summer EBT program and non-congregate meals for rural areas without congregate sites available are among the updates included in the recent Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. There is still lots to learn about how these updates will work. Stay tuned for information from the NC Department of Public Instruction. In the meantime, see an overview of changes from No Kid Hungry.
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
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.
IMPORTANT SUMMER TEXTING HOTLINE UPDATE
No Kid Hungry’s summer hotline texting hotline has a new number. Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 during the summer months to find a site near you with free meals for kids. The 304-304 number replaces the former hotline number, 877-877, which was used and advertised for many years.
For more information, and a toolkit with new promotional assets, click here.
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.
