Free meals available to Nevada children and teens this summer

School may be out for kids in Nevada, but the need for healthy meals never ends. Nearly 266,000 students in Nevada are eligible for free and reduced lunch, making up more than 55 percent of the student population.

“The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service program fills that gap, allowing children 18 years old and younger access to free, nutritious food during the summer,” Diane Hogan, nutrition programs professional for the Nevada Department of Agriculture, said.

Sites throughout the state offer meals daily for kids for free with no enrollment. Parents, children and teens can find a meal site near them by visiting freesummerfood.org, texting “FOOD” to 877-877 or calling 1-866-348-6479.

The Summer Food Service and Seamless Summer Option programs served 879,582 meals at 366 sites across Nevada in 2016 and plan to serve at least that many meals in 2017.

To learn more about the summer food service, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program.

About the USDA Summer Food Service Program

At open sites, meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis.

At closed sites, meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge. (To be eligible to receive free meals at a residential or non-residential camp, children must meet the income guidelines for reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program. The income guidelines for reduced-price meals by family size can be found here.) Children who are part of households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly foods stamps) benefits or benefits under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to receive free meals.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400
Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.