Summer Meal Programs Keep Kids Fed and Healthy

Summer is in full swing, and so are summer meal programs. This means during the summer in Texas, children under 19 can receive free meals at some schools, camps, and other nonprofit organizations. 

 The summer months can be a challenging time for families. In the summer, most Texas students lose access to the consistent, nutritious school meals available when school is in session. Because students are at home more, families spend more on groceries and children often eat poorer quality processed food that can worsen their health. Children suffer during the summer as families already struggling to survive cannot afford to purchase healthy and nutritious foods.  

Thankfully, this summer in Texas, students can access high-quality meals. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers summer feeding programs that provide free meals for students all summer long at participating meal sites. 

Summer meals are available June 1 – August 30. Families can use the following three tools to find a meal site: 

  • Dial 211 to speak to a live operator.
  • Visit SummerFood.org for an interactive site locator map.
  • Text FOOD (English) or COMIDA (Spanish) to 304-304.

Let’s continue to ensure Texas students never go hungry. For more information, visit the TDA’s Summer Meals page 

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