MEALS FOR KIDS
AND TEENS ARE AVAILABLE ALL SUMMER LONG!
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.
Latest Updates:
SUN Bucks is coming to NC!
- SUN Bucks will provide grocery-buying benefits to qualifying families with school-aged children during the summer months. More information and resources are available on the NC DHHS SUN Bucks website.
- Information and resources for educators, community organizations, and stakeholders are available on the SUN Bucks: NC Educators Info webpage.
Summer Meals are here!
- Promote awareness and fun around Summer Meals with a Kickoff Event! Use our planning toolkit.
- The SummerPalooza Planning Summits in November 2023 offered new resources to increase safety and participation.
- Promote and Plan your Summer Meals Program with our resources for sponsors.
IMPORTANT SUMMER TEXTING HOTLINE UPDATE
The summer texting hotline from No Kid Hungry 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.
