INDIANAPOLIS -- With classes ending for the summer, hundreds of central Indiana kids who get their main meals at school will lose that access to breakfast and lunches, but several programs across the state work to fill that nutritional gap during the summer months.
Indy Summer Servings
In Indianapolis, Indy Parks offers free nutritious lunches to kids 18 years old and under at parks across the city. Last year, Indy Parks served nearly 175,000 meals to the youth in Marion County.
Indy Parks provides daily delivery of meals to 100 program sites across the county. For more information about the summer servings program call 317-327-7275 (PARK).
IPS Summer Break Meal Program
IPS will serve meals at 28 locations across the city from June 11 through July 27. The food service staff will offer free breakfast and lunch around the district including stops from the Bus Stop Cafe at sites around the community.
The meals are free to any child under 18. The child does not have to attend an IPS school or live in the district. Adults can also purchase a meal for $4.
Summer Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP) was created to serve nutritious meals to children when school meals aren't available during the summer.
You can see a full list of available Summer Food Service Program locations in the chart below:
Another program that offers meals to kids across the country is called No Kid Hungry. The program connects kids 18 and under and their families to local organizations that provide healthy meals when school is out. Families can get information on those meals by texting “FOOD” to 877-877.
The hotline is run by the national nonprofit organization Share Our Strength. Volunteers will send a response asking for an address or zip code and will respond with the closest meal sites to that location.
Spanish speakers can text “COMIDA” to the same number for tips in Spanish.
There are also other ways to get information on the program, you can find them in the list below.
- Use your phone: Text FOOD to 877-877 to find a site near you
- Map it online: Go to NoKidHungry.org/SummerMeals to find a site online
- Call for details: Call 1-866-3HUNGRY to find a site and learn more
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