Free Summer Meals for Utah Kids | Utah Food Bank
Summer should be a time for children to play, grow, and explore—not worry about where their next meal will come from. But for 1 in 5 children in Utah, summer break means losing access to school meals and facing increased food insecurity. Without the support of school breakfast and lunch programs, many families are left stretching already tight budgets, and some parents may even skip meals so their children can eat.
To help fill this gap, Utah Food Bank is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially declared sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The program expands Utah Food Bank’s Kids Cafe initiative by providing free meals to all children ages 18 and under throughout the summer at both Open Sites (where any child can receive a meal) and Enrolled Programs (serving children participating in specific activities).
Approximately 215,000 meals will be served across more than 73 Utah Food Bank sites statewide. Depending on the location, meals may include breakfast, lunch, or supper—served either as individual daily meals or as a weekly box of non-perishable items containing seven breakfasts and seven suppers. Days of service and dates vary by location, so families are encouraged to check ahead.
Box Elder, Davis, Kane, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Piute, Salt Lake, San Juan, Summit, Utah, and Washington counties. Many sites are offering meals daily throughout the week, and days of service and dates vary by location. To find a meal site near you, visit www.UtahFoodBank.org/SummerMeals, text “SUMMER” to 914-342-7744, or call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY. Children must be present to receive a meal.
“Summer can be an especially tough time for families,” says Ginette Bott, President & CEO of Utah Food Bank. “When schools close, many children no longer have access to the free or reduced-price meals they rely on during the year. That puts added pressure on families already struggling to make ends meet. Unfortunately, summer is also when donations tend to drop, making it one of the most challenging times for us to meet the growing need.”
How You Can Help
As food insecurity rises during the summer months, so does the need for community support. Utah Food Bank’s Summer Business Food & Fund Drive runs through the end of August, and businesses and organizations of all sizes are encouraged to host food drives, fund drives—or both—within their workplaces.
Utah Food Bank provides everything needed to run a successful drive, including marketing materials and collection bins. You can even set up an online fundraising page with a custom URL to track your impact in real time. Learn more and get involved at www.UtahFoodBank.org/summer.
