Serving Nutritious Food for Kids in the Summer
The Summer Food Service Program is a USDA funded meal program available to children 0-18 at no cost.
Wake County Cooperative Extension supports our partners in establishing and enhancing summer food sites across the county. Though we do not directly manage or maintain any sites, we work hard to share the most up to date site lists and summer meal information with citizens in Wake County!
Wake County Summer Food Sites
Meal sites are often located at community centers, health clinics, parks, churches, mosques, and temples. Sites may be "OPEN Enrolled" (any child can come and receive a meal) or "CLOSED Enrolled" (meals are only served to children attending a camp or program at that location)
The sites listed on this website are all “OPEN Enrolled”, so any family can visit. You do not need to bring ID, verify income, or sign in to receive free meals at any open site. Everyone is welcome!
OPEN Summer Food Sites in Wake County
Schedule & Activities
The summer meal program operates during the months that school is out of session. This year, most sites will stop service by August 4, 2023, however some will serve well into August. If you are unsure of when a site ends, ask the site coordinator when you arrive.
Many sites have fun crafts, games, or other activities for children and their parents! Some sites also provide a meal for parents, but always check with the site coordinator.
Grab and Go Activity Summer Meal Site Guide
Other Resources
Past Summer Food Data
Promotional Videos
2021 Summer Food Program
2019 Summer Food Program
IMPORTANT NOTICE
If you attended a meal site during the COVID-19 Pandemic Summer 2020, 2021, and 2022, you may have been able to take meals “to-go” or pick up multiple meals at a time. This was due to a COVID-19 federal exception/waiver that is no longer in place.
Children who visit a site are required to eat on site. All grab-n-go Wake County Public School Sites are no longer operational.
Reporting an Incident
If you visit a site and encounter a problem, please let us know.
We are always working with our partners to improve the summer meal program in Wake County.
Submit a Problem/Incident ReportInforme de Incidente
Si visita un sitio y encuentra un problema, infórmenos.
Siempre estamos trabajando con nuestros socios para mejorar el programa de comidas de verano en el condado de Wake.
Enviar un Informe de IncidenteHost a Summer Food Site
If you are interested in opening a summer food site next summer, offering activities at existing summer meal sites, or getting more information on how to support the program, please contact Sydney Mierop, Food Security Program Manager at Sydney.mierop@wake.gov or by phone at (919)-250-3795.
Most sites must submit an application to host a meal program in early spring. We encourage interested partners to begin planning in the fall of 2023 to be prepared to apply as early as February 2024. Most site application deadlines will be in March/April 2024.
Summer Nutrition Programs | NC DPI