MT families can find free summer meals via text message
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MONTANA – Many of the same meal programs that served families during COVID-19 school closures will continue throughout the summer months, and they just became easier for families to find thanks to the opening of a texting service.
The Summer Food Service Program, a USDA program overseen by the Montana Office of Public Instruction at the state level, expanded to provide food to kids when regular school breakfast and lunch options weren’t available during the coronavirus emergency. Now that the school year is officially coming to a close, most of those summer meal sites will continue to serve families June through August as they do every year.
The easiest way to find detailed information on the nearest summer meal site is via the No Kid Hungry Summer Meal Text Line. The service is free, and open to anyone. A parent, grandparent or caregiver can simply text the word “FOOD” to 877-877 and the system prompts them to provide their address or zip code, which is used to provide the location and service times of up to three nearby summer meals sites.
For more information about the Summer Food Service Program please contact Kim Lloyd, SFSP Manager – OPI School Nutrition, at Kimberly.lloyd@mt.gov.
