More than 530 sites across Iowa are already offering free meals and snacks for children and teens during summer break, the Iowa Department of Education said.
More than 530 sites across Iowa are offering free meals and snacks for children and teens during summer break, according to the Iowa Department of Education.
The programs are open to children and teens 18 and younger and are available at locations across the state, including schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries and camps. Some sites serve meals to be eaten on-site, while others provide meals or snacks to go.
The services are offered through the Seamless Summer Option and the Summer Food Service Program, known together as SUN Meals. Both federally funded programs help keep children connected to food during the months when school is out.
Children 18 and younger can receive meals at no cost
SUN Meals is open to all children and teens age 18 and younger at participating sites.
Meals are provided at no cost to families. Availability, hours and meal service can vary by site, so the Iowa Department of Education recommends checking the nearest location before going.
Meal sites may operate in places that are easy for families to reach, including school buildings, churches, parks, libraries, community centers and camps. At some sites, children eat the meals there. At others, families may be able to pick up meals to take home.
Grab-and-go meals, known as SUN Meals To-Go, are limited to rural locations. That option helps children and teens in areas with fewer in-person meal sites continue to receive food during the summer.
Families can find a nearby site by phone, text or online
The Iowa Department of Education listed several ways families can find summer meal sites in Iowa.
Families can call 2-1-1 for local information. They can also call 1-866-3-HUNGRY, or 1-866-348-6479, for help in English.
For help in Spanish, families can call 1-877-8-HAMBRE, or 1-877-842-6273.
Families can also text “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744. Another option is to search online through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s summer meal site finder.
Before visiting a site, families should check the address, hours and type of service available. Some sites may operate only on certain days or follow different rules depending on the location.
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SUN Meals and SUN Bucks can work together this summer
The summer meal programs work alongside SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT.
SUN Bucks is managed by Iowa Health and Human Services and provides $120 in grocery benefits for each eligible child during the summer months. Families can use the benefit to buy food at authorized retailers.
Eligible children can receive SUN Bucks and also use SUN Meals or SUN Meals To-Go. Receiving one benefit does not prevent a child from using the other when the child meets the requirements.
The Iowa Department of Education said the summer meal programs help maintain access to healthy food while school is out. SUN Bucks adds grocery support for food at home.
Iowa’s summer meal programs have operated for decades
Federal summer meal programs first began as a pilot program in 1968, according to the Iowa Department of Education.
In Iowa, the department administers these services through its nutrition programs. Participating sites can include public and nonpublic schools, community organizations, churches, public centers, camps and other approved providers.
The Summer Food Service Program provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer. The Seamless Summer Option allows school meal operators to continue serving food outside the regular school year.
The department said meals and snacks are available at more than 530 sites this summer. The sites serve families in urban, suburban and rural communities during summer break.
Where families can check meal sites and benefits
Families can find summer meal sites through these options:
Phone:
2-1-1
1-866-3-HUNGRY / 1-866-348-6479, in English
1-877-8-HAMBRE / 1-877-842-6273, in Spanish
Text:
Text “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744
Families who want to check SUN Bucks information can visit Iowa Health and Human Services. The program provides $120 per eligible child, and benefits are issued on a SUN Bucks card.
The Iowa Department of Education also keeps information about the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option on its website. Hours, sites and service types may vary by community during the summer.
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