Overview
- USDA data, which were posted June 18, show more than 39,000 locations across the country offering free meals and snacks to children 18 and younger during extended school breaks.
- Meals are served at schools, parks and community centers and are offered on-site or as grab-and-go, with some rural areas providing pickup or delivery but delivery is not consistently listed in federal data.
- The USDA site list is compiled from reports sent by state agencies, so the department’s public data may not show local delivery options or last-minute changes and families should verify details with their state office.
- A Hearst analysis found roughly 1,630 summer meal sites in California concentrated in neighborhoods where at least half of local children qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
- The Summer Food Service Program runs during periods when students are out for 15 or more consecutive school days, meals are typically first-come, first-served, and the USDA National Hunger Hotline (1-866-3-HUNGRY) and online ZIP-code tools can help families find current sites.