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With students out for the summer, the start of summer food programs for kids are now up and running to aid families in need of secure and healthy food in their counties.
In Texas, nearly 5 million individuals are facing hunger, leading the nation in food insecurity. With one-third of those individuals being children, North Texas school districts, The Texas Department of Agriculture, Feeding Texas, and other private organizations have made it their mission to provide healthy summer meals to children and teens ages 18, and younger as well as enrolled students with disabilities up to 21 years old.
With 20% of Texas children experiencing hunger, the readily available need for meals during the summer is essential in maintaining the support of kids’ health, and well-being not just in the school period, but throughout the entirety of the year.
These summer programs are to ensure that every child has steady access to meals during the summer months even while school is not in session. Throughout the DFW area, various organizations provide these meals at no cost. Participation in summer lunch increased by 123% in July 2020 and by 101% in July 2021 compared to July 2019, FRAC said. Because of this, summer programs are essential to the community to maintain a healthy, and balanced relationship between children, and food all year-long.
Texas Department of Agriculture’s Summer Meal Programs
Various locations
The Texas Department of Agriculture administers the Summer Food Service Program statewide in which free meals are provided to children in low-income families. Participating families do not need to apply, register, or provide identification, and children do not need to be registered in summer school. They also don’t need to show proof of income, age, or residence. To find a nearby meal site click here, call 211, or text “FOOD” to 304-304.
Dallas Independent School District
Various locations
Dallas ISD offers free, hot, summer meals to children under 18 years of age, and children up to age 21 with disabilities at various locations ranging from schools, to community centers to churches. No registration, or proof of income required. This program regularly runs from June to August. To see qualifying location, and hours click here
Fort Worth Independent School District
Various locations
Fort Worth ISD offers a free summer food program, and continues meals in the 2024-25 school year to all children 18 or younger until July 2. Meals can be found at various elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Fort Worth school district.
Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department
Various locations
In Fort Worth, the Parks and Recreation Department is providing free meals to children 18, and under at community centers found here. In the summer of 2021, 14,633 meals were served to children at 20 community center locations, showing the significant impact of these meals in the community.
Various locations
In partnership with its feeding network, NTFB holds public food distributions to help families in North Texas in need of extra groceries during the summer months. The NTFB works with more than 400 feeding partners to help provide meals to children, and families through various school pantry sites, drive-through distributions, and walk-ups at participating locations throughout North Texas. View the Mobile Food Distribution Schedule to see locations, times, and dates near you.
Various Locations
McKinney Roots is a non-profit food donation farm that donates produce to families in McKinney by growing, and distributing this food to local nonprofits, churches, and schools to focus on addressing food insecurity in the community. They have served up to 6,300 meals served by kitchens, and groceries for 1,000 families every week. They currently supply produce, and eggs to varying partners that donate to families in need.
