This one is worth sharing with every family you know.
When school ends, the free and reduced-price meals that millions of children depend on during the school year disappear. For many families in our region, that gap is a real challenge. The good news: there is a federal program running right now that fills it, and the only thing a child needs to participate is to show up.
USDA’s Summer Food Service Program provides free nutritious meals and snacks to kids of all ages at eligible locations including schools, parks, and community sites. No application is needed. Kids simply need to show up. Every child aged 18 and under. And in some programs, young adults with disabilities up to age 21 are also eligible.
How to Find a Site Near You
The fastest way to find free summer meal locations in your neighborhood is through the USDA Summer Meals Site Finder, available at fna.usda.gov/sfsp/sitefinder. You can also text the word FOOD to 304-304 to receive nearby location information by text message. The site finder is updated every Friday throughout the summer with new locations, so checking back throughout July and August is worth doing as sites are added.
Families can also call the USDA National Hunger Hotline, operated by Hunger Free America, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479). Real people answer this line and can help you find the nearest site regardless of where you are in the region.
Summer EBT: $120 in Grocery Benefits Per Child
Beyond the free meal sites, there is a second program worth knowing about.
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, known as Summer EBT, provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child during the summer months for families of children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. These benefits work like a debit card at participating grocery stores and farmers markets. If your family qualifies for free or reduced-price school lunch during the year, your children likely qualify for Summer EBT. Contact your child’s school district or your county’s social services office to confirm eligibility and enrollment.
Additional Local Food Assistance
Southern Tier Food Bank Serving the seven-county Southern Tier region including Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, and surrounding counties, the Southern Tier Food Bank supports a network of local food pantries and free meal programs. Visit stfb.org or call (607) 796-6061 to find the nearest pantry.
Food Bank of the Southern Tier The Elmira-based Food Bank of the Southern Tier distributes food through over 250 partner agencies across a wide service area. Visit foodbankst.org to find distribution sites, summer meal programs, and additional resources for families.
Foodlink Serving Monroe, Ontario, Yates, and surrounding counties in the northern Finger Lakes corridor, Foodlink operates a mobile food pantry and supports summer meal programming across the region. Visit foodlinkny.org or call 211 for local resources.
211 New York Call or text 211 from anywhere in New York State for a real-time connection to local food assistance, summer meal programs, and other family resources. Available 24 hours a day.
WIC New York For families with children under five, pregnant women, and new mothers, WIC provides nutrition assistance including food benefits, lactation support, and referrals. Call 1-800-522-5006 or visit health.ny.gov to find your local WIC office.
Please share this with every family in your network who might need it. In New York state, about 1 in 5 children face food insecurity and you’d likely never know. Summer meal programs are consistently underused because families don’t know they exist. The information is free to pass along and it can make a big difference. 🍎