Where Your Child Can Get Free Meals This Summer in Pennsylvania

(KTXL) – Even when schools are out for summer break, many families may still need free meals for their children.

For those looking for help, there is an online search tool that can help you find a summer dining site in your community.

Families can use the Summer Meal Site Finder to see where free meals are available. The site currently has data from 30 states. It was developed by the Food and Nutrition Service of the US Department of Agriculture.

How to use the tool

The online tool is free and the web-based application can be used on tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices.

When you start the website, a map shows where the free meal sites are located. They are differentiated by blue or orange dots.

With the online tool you can find two types of places: eating on site (blue dots) and takeaways (orange dots). Both offer free meals and snacks for children under 18 years old.

The online tool also has a search bar to enter an address or zip code to see if there is a summer dining location nearby.

If a search shows no results, the USDA said summer sites near the address may not have opened for the season or may have closed. Officials urge people to check the site finder frequently as it is updated every Friday.

Users can also report any incorrect data on the site finder to a local state agency.

Where is food service available?

As of May 24, the site finder has data for the following states:
•Alaska
•Arkansas
•Arizona
•California
•Colorado
•Florida
•Georgia
•Iowa
•Idaho
•Illinois
•Indiana
•Kansas
•Kentucky
•Louisiana
•Minnesota
•Missouri
•Mississippi
•North Carolina
•North Dakota
•Nebraska
•Oregon
•Pennsylvania
•South Carolina
•South Dakota
•Tennessee
•Texas
•Utah
•Virginia
•Wisconsin
•West Virginia

What to do if your state is not listed

For those who don’t see any free meal services in their state, the USDA recommends contacting the site directly or a local state agency to explore options.

Families who need additional food assistance for their children can also contact the USDA National Hunger Hotline. There are two separate hotlines, one in English and one in Spanish.

You can contact the following numbers Monday through Friday between 7 am and 10 pm ET:
•1-866-348-6479 (English)
•1-877-842-6273 (Spanish)