FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barrett White / bwhite@rubenstein.com
NEW YORK, NY (June 29, 2026) – No Kid Hungry New York today announced more than $134,000 in community grants to help 13 public school districts and community organizations in rural areas across upstate and Western New York provide more kids with free, nutritious meals all summer long. The new funding addresses some of the obstacles that have kept families from utilizing free summer meal programs in the past by providing grab-n-go meal options, home delivery, extended hours, and new, more convenient locations.
New York’s hunger crisis is continuing to impact millions of children and families. Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have impacted food assistance for more than 125,000 families statewide. According to a recent poll from No Kid Hungry New York, three-fourths of New York families reported that the high cost of food has forced them to choose between groceries and other necessities, like housing costs, utilities, and transportation. The poll also found that 52 percent of Western New York residents have had to take on additional debt due to the rising cost of food.
Food insecurity spikes every summer as kids lose access to no-cost and low-cost school meals, and it is especially prevalent in rural communities, where it can be difficult for families to reach summer meal sites offering free meals. More than 2,500 sites will be open across New York this summer. Anyone age 18 and under is eligible. No registration, documentation, or ID is necessary to receive a meal.
“No child should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from when school lets out for the summer. Yet for too many families across New York, getting to a summer meal site can be a challenge,” said Liz Lucas, Senior Program Manager at No Kid Hungry New York. “These grants help bring nutritious meals directly to kids through flexible solutions like eat-in meals, grab-and-go options, and home deliveries. At a time when families are struggling with rising food costs and federal cuts are putting critical food assistance at risk, this support is more important than ever. We’re proud to work with local school districts, community organizations, and philanthropic partners so that more children can stay healthy, active, and ready to thrive all summer long.”
Recipients of No Kid Hungry New York’s 2026 Summer Grants include:
- Cassadaga Valley Central School District will offer bulk meal distributions every Wednesday to its school community and will operate weekly bulk meal distributions in two neighboring school districts.
- Chautauqua Opportunities will provide breakfast and lunch at both eat-in and grab-n-go sites throughout Chautauqua County daily. The program will also pilot take-home weekend meals at one location.
- Edwards Knox Central School District will pilot a home delivery program to distribute meals throughout its service area in St. Lawrence County.
- Honeoye Central School District will expand the operational hours for its summer meal site and offer flexible pick-up options in Ontario County to better serve working families.
- Jamestown YMCA will operate two new meal pickup sites and distribute take-home weekend meals on Fridays at eat-in locations.
- Jamestown City School District will serve eat-in meals Monday-Friday alongside the district’s LEAP program and distribute take-home weekend meals on Fridays. The district is offering additional flexible meal access options designed to reduce barriers and better serve the community.
- Lyons Central School District will continue its seven-day home delivery program for families unable to access eat-in meals at their school site.
- Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES will expand their pilot 7-day meal bundle distribution to four distribution sites across Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties.
- Pine Valley Central School District will serve multi-day meals every Monday and Thursday at 3 locations across its service area.
- Salamanca City Central School District will use its food truck to provide meals at four new mobile pick-up sites throughout its Cattaraugus County service area, in addition to providing daily eat-in and grab-n-go meals.
- Springville-Griffith Institute/Central School District will add a second pick-up site at Colden Elementary School.
- Warrensburg Central School District will launch a home delivery program, delivering 5 days of breakfast and lunches to households every Wednesday.
- Whitehall Central School District will expand its home delivery program, covering up to 50 percent of the district’s extensive service area.
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