2023 Summer Food Service Program to Provide Meals at More Than 2,500 Sites Statewide

The 2023 Summer Food Service Program, providing free meals to approximately 400,000 young people at parks, pools, libraries, camps, and schools, kicks off in July at nearly 2,500 sites statewide, State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. An interactive USDA online map helps families search for a service site by address, city, or zip code.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “Summer Food Service Programs are an important source of nutritious food for many families. We are pleased to be able to continue to ensure that every family, in every zip code, has access to healthy food for their kids in fun, welcoming environments across the state. I applaud our local partners for their commitment to this work and making the program a success year after year.”

Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “These programs are vital to ensure that children from low-income families have equitable access to nutritious meals during the summer break, helping to combat food insecurity and promote overall well-being. The Summer Food Service programs support educational continuity by ensuring that children return to school in the fall ready to learn, as proper nutrition is closely linked to academic performance.”

Studies have shown that access to nutritious food during summer break benefits children’s health, education, and food security. Inadequate nutrition can have developmental consequences for children, including lower academic performance, social and emotional difficulties like anxiety and depression, and a higher risk for chronic illnesses like anemia or diabetes. The program sites also give young people an opportunity to interact with other children their age and participate in free activities.

About the Summer Food Service Program:

• Statewide, over 495 organizations will serve nutritious meals every day.
• Summer meal sites offer nutritious, healthy meals for children, often with fresh, locally sourced produce.
• There are approximately 2,500 Summer Food Service Program feeding sites throughout the State.
• Beginning this summer, meals will be available for pick-up, or delivered to eligible children in rural areas who can’t get to a meal site.
• It is anticipated that more than 20 million nutritious meals will be served to New York children this summer.

Most New York sponsors begin operating Summer Food Service Programs in July. There are several tools available to help find the site nearest you:

• USDA Online Map
• Text: Text “Food or “Comida” to 304-304
• Call:
  • USDA National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-3-HAMBRE
  • 211 in New York State
  • 311 in New York City

Additional program sites and meals services time updates will be added to the online map weekly. Please check the above resources often to find out whether these have become available in your area.

The Summer Food Service Program was established to ensure that low-income children aged 18 and younger receive nutritious meals when schools are not in session. USDA Food and Nutrition Service administers the Summer Food Service Program at the national level, and the New York State Education Department administers it at the state level.

More information on NYSED’s administration of the Summer Food Service Program is available on the Department’s website.