Helping Fill the Nutrition Gap

During the school year, tens of thousands of Oregon children eat school meals each day. However, when school ends for the year, this important source of nutrition. The federal Summer Food Service Program (aka Summer Meals helps create access to daily, nutritious meals during the summertime. Meals are provided free of charge to ALL children ages 1-18.

In Oregon, the Summer Meals program is administered by the Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs. This website, summer meals marketing materials, and other Oregon summer meal promotional efforts are a collaborative project of Hunger-Free Oregon and ODE CNP.

group of children eating and smiling in a cafeteria setting Oregon Summer Meals

Summer Meals Basics

Most summer meal sites are open to ALL children, ages 1-18. In addition to meals, many of the sites offer fun, supervised enrichment activities for kids.

To receive a free summer meal:

    • Children do not have to attend that specific school or district to have receive a meal from that site 
    • No application or income verification is needed. Just show up during the designated meal times.
    • Meals are available to students regardless of immigration status.

 

To find a site, visit the summer meals map tool, call 2-1-1, or text “FOOD” or “COMIDA”  to 877-877 or check in with your school district or local organization on how they are serving meals.

Programs are run by parks and rec programs, faith and spiritual organizations, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, schools, school districts and more. Some programs choose to sell meals to adults that attend, please check in with your school district or local organization for more information.

Oregon Summer Meals girl and boy lying down in grass eating sandwiches facing up at camera Oregon Summer Meals

The Gap

There are 133 local programs with more than 800 sites across Oregon, yet only 1 in 8 children that are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals during the school year currently participate. Find out how you can help to close the gap.

Get Involved
Oregon Summer Meals children raising hands in a classroom setting

How Summer Food Service Program Got Started

The Summer Food Service Program for Children was created by Congress in 1968. It is designed to provide funds for eligible organizations to serve nutritious meals to low-income children when school is not in session. Funding for meals is provided by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program.