Feeding Florida | Florida's Food Bank Network

Feeding Florida News

Back to All News

Ensuring No Kid Goes Hungry This Summer

Ensuring No Kid Goes Hungry This Summer

While the summer months mean fun and play for some kids, 21 percent of children in Florida are currently experiencing food insecurity. When school lets out for summer break, many children are left without a consistent source of food, adding to the other struggles they face like development and health. Studies show kids who don’t get enough food to eat are more likely to repeat a grade, experience developmental impairments in areas like language and motor skills, and have more social and behavioral problems. 

Our Feeding Florida food banks are dedicated to providing access to healthy and nutritious food for the 906,470 children in Florida who experience food insecurity. One way our food banks provide for hungry children is through summer feeding programs. These programs offer a wide range of options for parents to provide food for their kids during the summer months, from mobile food pantries and drive-thru food deliveries to grab-and-go meal packs. 

Below are links to help you find food this summer provided by one of our network food banks. In addition, here are some key resources:

  • You can find meal programs near you by texting the word FOOD to 877-877, thanks to our friends at No Kid Hungry. (You’ll get a message with nearby locations; data and message rates may apply).
  • Calling the USDA Hotline at 1-866-348-6479 is a great way to find free summer food service programs in your area. 
  • You can locate your local food banks and search by zip code or state using the Feeding America food bank locator to contact the food bank nearest you. Even if the food bank looks far away, our food banks work in all 67 Florida counties, partnering with local pantries and meal programs closer to your home.

Feeding America – How to find summer food>>

Summer BreakSpot – Get free kids meals>>


Learn more about the Summer Feeding Programs at these Feeding Florida Food Banks:
 

Feeding South Florida >>

  • Serving Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach Counties

Feeding the Gulf Coast >>

  • Serving Bay, Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington Counties 

Second Harvest of the Big Bend >>

  • Serving Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla Counties 

Feeding Northeast Florida >>

  • Serving Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns Counties

Feeding Tampa Bay >>

  • Serving Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter Counties

Second Harvest of Central Florida >>

  • Serving Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia Counties

All Faiths Food Bank >>

  • Serving DeSoto, Sarasota Counties

Treasure Coast Food Bank >>

  • Serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie Counties


 

Most Recent News:

Feeding Families Through School Pantries

1 in 5 Florida children are food insecure. Our food banks are not just fighting hunger, they are finding solutions so children and their families are able to access healthy, nutritious food when they need to. Through enhanced School Pantries, we can provide resources where children and their families frequent every day. We can take the stigma out of food pantries and give support to young families who need it most.

Read Full News Post

Florida Politics- Feeding Florida’s food banks, emergency managers, mobilize to help other hurricane-stricken states

While Florida was hit hard by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, state leaders in both emergency management and food resources are reaching out to help other states that are suffering from the impacts of the monster storm. Feeding Florida, a network of food banks throughout the Sunshine State, along with the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) have mobilized to begin delivering food, water and other supplies to nearby states.

Read Full News Post

Release: Feeding Florida Network Ready for Storm Relief as Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall

The Feeding Florida network of food banks is prepared to provide statewide relief to Floridians impacted by Hurricane Helene. In partnership with the Division of Emergency Management’s ESF-6 mass feeding team, Feeding Florida and its 9-member food banks have proven they can quickly mobilize to ensure affected communities are provided for.  

Read Full News Post