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Summer Meals in North Carolina

 

Many children in North Carolina depend on school for their daily nutrition. When the school year ends, Summer Nutrition Programs ensure that children and teens still have access to meals at no cost.

No Kid Hungry North Carolina and the Carolina Hunger Initiative work closely with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), schools, and community partners to promote information about how to find summer meal sites across the state.

North Carolina’s Summer Nutrition Programs include:

  • Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
  • Seamless Summer Option (SSO)

These programs are administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), with federal support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

NCDPI partners with schools and community organizations that operate as summer meal sponsors to serve free meals and snacks to children and teens ages 18 and younger during the summer months. Approved sponsors are reimbursed for providing nutritious meals in low-income communities.

How to Find Summer Meals

 

Families can easily locate free summer meals across North Carolina using the resources below.

  • Summer Meals Website: Find the latest information and resources about North Carolina’s Summer Nutrition Programs at SummerMeals4NCKids.org.
  • North Carolina Summer Meal Site Finder: Use the Site Finder Map to locate summer meal sites across the state.
  • USDA Summer Meal Site Finder: Search for nearby summer meal locations using the USDA’s national site finder tool.
  • Find Your Local Food Bank: Your local food bank may offer summer meal programs or connect families to additional food resources. Find your local food bank through Feeding the Carolinas.
  • Local School Districts: Check your local school district’s website, social media, and family communications for the most up-to-date meal site details.

 

Why Summer Meals?

  • FREE: Meals are free to children and teens ages 18 and younger who visit a participating summer meal site.
  • SAVE MONEY: Free summer meals help families stretch their food budgets and reduce grocery costs.
  • NUTRITIOUS: Meals served at summer meal sites follow USDA nutrition guidelines to ensure children receive balanced, healthy food.
  • SAFE: Summer meal sites are located in safe, familiar spaces such as schools, churches, parks, and community centers.
  • FUN: Many sites offer educational and recreational activities so that kids can eat, socialize, and participate in engaging programs.
  • NO ID, NO REGISTRATION: Families do not need to apply or fill out paperwork. Children can simply visit a participating site and enjoy a healthy meal.
  • TIP: Contact the meal site before visiting to confirm the location, schedule, and serving times.

Did you know? In summer 2025, North Carolina served approximately 5.3 million meals to children through Summer Nutrition Programs—an increase of 1 million meals compared to summer 2024. A total of 157 organizations served as summer meals sponsors across the state.

For Schools and Community Organizations

 

Schools, local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations play a vital role in making summer meals available to children across North Carolina.

Organizations can participate as summer meal sponsors or sites, helping ensure that children have access to healthy food when school is not in session.

  • Summer Meal County Profiles: Find county-level participation data and learn more about how Summer Nutrition Programs are operating across North Carolina using Summer Meals County Profiles developed by the Carolina Hunger Initiative.
  • NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI): Contact NCDPI for information on becoming an approved sponsor or site in your area.
  • No Kid Hungry’s Center for Best Practices: Explore our collection of resources, tools, and webinars designed to support sponsors in implementing Summer Nutrition Programs.
  • USDA Mapping Tools: USDA’s Capacity Builder Map helps SFSP and SSO sponsors review previous years’ service and plan strategically for future summer meal operations.
  • Summer Meals Outreach Toolkit: Help spread the word about free summer meals for kids. Access this easy-to-use outreach toolkit with graphics, social media posts, template letters, and other materials to support community outreach.