Summer Meals & Summer EBT
Free meals and grocery benefits for kids during summer
What Are Summer Meal Programs?
When school is out, children can still get free meals through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Open meal sites serve free meals to any child under 18 — no ID, income proof, or signup needed. Just show up.
In addition, Summer EBT provides $120 per eligible child to buy groceries during summer months. Children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals are automatically enrolled — no separate application needed.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
SFSP provides free meals at sites in low-income areas during summer months. Sites include schools, parks, libraries, churches, and community centers. Most are "open sites" meaning any child under 18 can eat for free, regardless of where they live or family income.
To find summer meal sites near you, text "FOOD" to 304-304, call 211, or use the USDA Summer Meals Site Finder.
Summer EBT ($120 per Child)
Summer EBT is a grocery benefit of $120 per child for the summer. It works like SNAP — benefits are loaded onto a card you use at the grocery store. Children who receive free or reduced-price school meals are automatically eligible. Most families don't need to apply separately.
Related reading
Summer food deep dives
Research atlas
Summer EBT / SUN Bucks Coverage Atlas: See Your State
Forty states joined Summer EBT for 2025 — eleven opted out. Our coverage atlas maps eligible children, projected benefit dollars, and the hundreds of millions forfeited in opt-out states — drawn from USDA FNS state plans and Census SAIPE county-level child-poverty data.
Open the Summer EBT AtlasResearch atlas
School Hunger / Free Lunch Atlas: The School-Year Baseline
Summer food programs fill the gap left when school meals stop. Our School Hunger Atlas maps the school-year baseline — NSLP and CEP participation, direct certification, and free/reduced eligibility — for every county, so you can see exactly how many children's meals go away when June arrives.
Open the School Hunger AtlasHow to Apply
- 1 Summer meal sites: No application needed — just show up during meal times
- 2 Summer EBT: Automatic enrollment if your child qualifies for free/reduced school meals, SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid
What You Get
- Free breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks at community meal sites
- No ID, proof of income, or registration required at open sites
- Summer EBT: $120 per eligible school-age child for groceries
Key Facts
- Any child 18 or under can eat free at open summer meal sites — no questions asked
- Summer EBT benefits are loaded automatically if your child is enrolled in qualifying programs
- Summer meal sites operate at schools, parks, libraries, community centers, and churches
- Call 211 or text "FOOD" to 304-304 to find nearby summer meal sites
Official Resources
Related Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need to be enrolled in anything?
Where are summer meal sites located?
Find a Food Pantry Near You
Food pantries provide immediate food assistance alongside Summer Meals.