Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as the Summer Meals Program, was established to ensure that children and teens aged 18 and younger receive free, healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks during the summer months.

Program Guidelines

Summer 2025 sites will operate from June 25 through August 22. Each youth can receive up to two meals or one meal and one snack per day to be eaten onsite.

See this year's site map below.

How much can I save with this program?

With this program, you can expect to save an average of $247 annually.

Children between the ages of 1-18 are eligible for the Summer Food Service Program.

The City of Seattle's Summer Food Program is an equal opportunity provider and follows the federal program's guidelines. See the USDA's non-discrimination statement.

All Seattle residents regardless of immigration status are eligible for City of Seattle programs and services unless noted otherwise.

Sign-up is not required for the program. Visit your nearest Summer Meals site to receive free, healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks during the summer months.

Ways to find the nearest Free Summer Meals Site

• Check back soon for a list of 2025 sites! (see 2024 Summer Meals Site List for historical site information)
• SUN Bucks: Some families may also be eligible for SUN Bucks.  Families with eligible school-aged children will get $120 per child to buy groceries during the summer while free and reduced-price meals aren’t available in schools. For more information, click here.
• Enter your address to find other free, healthy meals being served by organizations in your community. / Ingrese su dirección para encontrar otras comidas saludables y gratuitas servidas por organizaciones de su comunidad.
• Call the USDA Hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1 (866) 348-6479) / Llame al 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1 (877) 842-6273)
• Email SFSP@seattle.gov

You can also learn how to apply for Basic Food (SNAP) or find SFSP sites with UWKC's Summer Meals Search Tool that displays sponsor, site, and meal information with online mapping tools.

Apply to be a meal site

Apply to become a summer meal site by completing the 2025 application and emailing it to SFSP@seattle.gov. The deadline to apply is May 30, 2025.

Watch this quick overview of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to learn if it might be a good fit for your organization.

All Seattle residents regardless of immigration status are eligible for City of Seattle programs and services unless noted otherwise.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was established in the late '60s to ensure that children receive nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. Children need good nutrition throughout the year, and the SFSP helps fill the gap during the summer for children 18 and under when school is not in session. The program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Washington State.

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD), Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Public Schools, and United Way of King County (UWKC) work together to recruit and support local sites in Seattle by providing reimbursements to providers who serve free, healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks to children and teens age 18 and younger.

More than 18,000 children and youth in Seattle qualify for free or reduced meals, and 1 in 6 are food insecure. In 2024, almost 60,000 meals were served to children who otherwise would have missed a meal during the summer months.

Need Housing or Food?

• Call 2-1-1, Mon-Fri, 8:00am - 6:00pm
• Text to (877) 211-9274, Mon-Fri, 9:00am - 4:00pm
• Locate a Food Bank near you

Are You Experiencing Homelessness?

• King County Regional Homelessness Authority Resources

City of Seattle and King County Emergency Food Resources Map

Email: SFSP@seattle.gov
Phone: (206) 386-1140