Summer Food Service Program Offers Free Meals To RI Students

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island students can get free lunches all summer long, thanks to the Department of Education's Summer Food Service Program. More than 200 sites were set up in eligible communities, with no eligibility requirement for students who live there.

"It’s our responsibility as a state to ensure that no child goes hungry," Gov. Dan McKee said. "The Summer Food Service Program is an important part of our plan to keep our kids happy and healthy throughout the summer. These meal pickup points will not only help us fight child hunger, but they will be places for our communities to gather, engage, and thrive post-pandemic."

To qualify, cities or towns must have at least 50 percent of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. All kids under the age of 18 can visit the sites, with no need to fill out paperwork or prove residency. Families can find a site near them by calling 211 or visiting the Department of Education's website.

"Caring and supporting our students is a 365-day-a-year commitment, and that includes making sure they have access to nutritious food so they can keep learning and growing," Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said. "Through the Summer Food Service Program, students can continue to get the meals they receive at school throughout the break and return ready to succeed. We are deeply thankful for the many community partners contributing their time and effort to make this possible."

About 72,000 students in Rhode Island are eligible for daily meals through the National School Lunch program during the school year. The Summer Food Service Program was established to help keep these kids fed during the summer months. During the pandemic, more people took advantage of the program, which served more than 1.9 million meals in Rhode Island from June to August 2020.