In Kentucky, summer meals are now more accessible, flexible, and responsive to the needs of families. Thanks to strong community partnerships and innovative strategies, families have more options to access the food they need during the summer months. Congratulations to all of the sponsors and meal providers that have made for another successful summer of summer meals in Kentucky!
Summer EBT, another benefit that provides $120 in grocery benefits to eligible children, helps bridge this gap by providing families with additional resources to keep children fed when school is out. The program can complement free summer meals in communities or be a support for families that live in areas that don’t have access to free summer meals.
Summer EBT has added a critical layer of support to summer nutrition efforts. Launched nationwide in 2024, the program served approximately 21.3 million children across 37 states, the District of Columbia, all five U.S. territories, and two Indian Tribal Organizations. This year, participation has expanded to 37 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, all five U.S. territories, and five Indian Tribal Organizations.
No Kid Hungry Kentucky applauds our leaders in making child nutrition a priority and ensuring Summer EBT helps eligible children access meals during the summer months.“Every child deserves access to nutritious meals year-round,” said Gov. Andy Beshear in a release. “Building on last year’s success, our continued effort with this program is a crucial investment in our children’s health and well-being. I’m proud to see this growing initiative provide support to families when they need it most. Food isn’t just a necessity – it’s a building block for strong, thriving communities. By extending this program, we are not only fighting hunger but also laying the groundwork for a healthier future for our families. I want to thank the many individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to feed our people through efforts like these.”
In Kentucky, the deadline for families to apply for benefits is August 15th. Please help us get the word out to families about checking their eligibility status and applying for benefits. School districts and community partners can leverage our toolkit here to access social media posts, robocall templates, email messaging and more. Help families in your community access these critical summer grocery benefits!
No Kid Hungry Kentucky is committed to continuing this momentum. We’re partnering with schools, local community-based organizations, and state agencies to provide support, expand program reach, and ensure every child Kentucky has access to the nutrition they need this summer.
