For most kids, summertime means spending time with friends and family, no homework, and having fun. However, for families who count on school breakfast and lunch, the summer months can be challenging and stressful. Many family food budgets may be stretched to the limit.
As a resource, free summer meals are available to all kids and teens ages 18 and younger in eligible communities across Tennessee.
Watch the video below to learn more:
Find a Summer Food Service Program Site
To find a meal site near you, search the kidcentral tn State Services Directory for “summer food” with your ZIP code. Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites may have also been announced in your local newspaper.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Details:
- Meals are free for children and teens ages 18 and younger who come to a SFSP site.
- Meals are also provided to persons 19 and older who have a mental or physical disability and who participate during the school year in a public or private nonprofit school program established for individuals with disabilities.
- Food served is healthy and follows the nutrition guidelines of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
- No application or proof of income is necessary—just bring your child to a SFSP site in your community.
In addition to healthy meals, many Summer Food Service Program sites offer fun learning and recreational activities so kids and teens can eat a meal while staying active and enjoying time with friends. Sites are also registered with the USDA and are held at safe local meeting places like schools, churches and community centers.
Additional Resources
Find out more about Tennessee's statewide programs that can help your family keep healthy food on the table year-round, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Tennessee's SFSP is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and funded by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).