Summer Food Service Programs: What to Know and How to Enroll your Child

Project Bread

Feeding Kids
Boy drinking milk at a Summer Eats meal site.
Boy drinking milk at a Summer Eats meal site.

What is Summer Eats?

Just because school comes to an end doesn’t mean that kids and families don’t still need the food provided by school meals during the rest of the year. Project Bread partners with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education through the Child Nutrition Outreach Program to provide free meals to kids across Massachusetts through Summer Eats!

Summer Eats is a federally funded nutrition program that provides free meals to children ages 18 and under when school is not in session. 

Student in Chelsea, MA

“I love walking with my little brother to get lunch at my school down the street during the summer. Sometimes we see friends and they even have games for us to play while we eat!"


What you need to know

  • You don’t need to enroll in Summer Eats - there is no sign up needed!
  • All kids and teens, 0-18 are eligible to receive meals. Free Grab & Go meals are availble for pick-up at hundreds of locations throughout the state,
  • No I.D. is asked for and children do not have to be present to pick up meals.
  • Just find a location near you using this map of free meal sites in Massachusetts (if you don’t find a location near you, keep checking back as new sites are added regularly).
  • Free meals will be available through September 2021.

  • Many sites provide multiple days of meals at once!

Summer Eats helps to fill the gap left open during the summer months for families who need some help to afford enough food. When children have reliable access to food during the summer they can return to school ready to learn.

During the school year, many families stretch their food budget by applying for free or reduced-price school meals for their children. When school isn’t in session, these families can find the additional meal costs a challenge. This can lead to kids at risk for hunger and malnutrition, and when they return to school in September they're at a disadvantage compared to other kids. By providing free, nutritious meals throughout the summer, Summer Eats ensures that every child has access to the food they need to succeed.

You can find free meals near you by entering your address into the Free Meal Finder Map. Find free meals now and help spread the word to family and friends!

Little boy holds a frisbee with the Summer Eats logo.
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