Summer Meal Site Finder shows where your child can get food over the summer

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(KTXL) — Even when schools are out for summer vacation, many families may still be in need of free meals for their children.

For those looking for assistance, there’s an online search tool that can help you find a summer meal site in your community.

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

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 the webpage is launched, a map shows where free meal sites are located. They’re differentiated by blue or orange dots.

Two types of sites can be found with the online tool: eat on-site (blue dots) and meals to-go (orange dots). Both offer free meals and snacks to children 18 and younger.

Families across the country can use the USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder to search for free summer meals. (Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture)

The online tool also has a search bar where you can enter an address or zip code to see if a summer meal site is nearby.

If a search doesn’t show any results, the USDA said it’s possible that the summer sites near the address have not opened for the season or have closed. Officials urge people to check the site finder frequently, as it is updated every Friday.

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

Where is the meal 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 said to contact 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’s National Hunger Hotline. There are two separate hotlines, one in English and another in Spanish.

The following numbers can be reached Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET:
•1-866-348-6479 (English)
•1-877-842-6273 (Spanish)