Summer brings the highest rates of childhood hunger in the U.S. With children out of school, those that receive free school breakfast and lunch are going without, and many of them are skipping meals and eating less than during the school year. The Summer Food Service Program provides funding to serve meals and snacks to children and teens to fill that nutrition gap. Schools, local governments, National Youth Sports Programs and nonprofit organizations can operate summer feeding sites, combining an activity with a safe place to get food.

WhyHunger partners with the USDA to promote the Summer Food Service Program to ensure that more children and their families have access to free, nutritious food during the summer months. Families in need can call our National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3 HUNGRY to be connected with a summer feeding site in their community. Or text ‘food’ to 877-877 to find out about summer meals sites.

Help spread the word! You can find posters and web banners here for the Hotline – spread the word to your local schools, print out and hang the posters in libraries and other community centers.

People can also call WhyHunger’s National Hunger Hotline, 1-866-3 HUNGRY, or go online to www.whyhunger.org/findfood to be connected with food pantries, government nutrition programs, and other emergency food assistance this summer and throughout the year.