Utah Food Bank is providing free meals to those 18 and under this summer
According to a press release from the food bank, this program extends the existing Utah Food Bank's Kids Cafe program, which provides meals to students outside of school hours.
These meals will be available at both open sites, meaning any youth can come and eat on site, and in enrolled programs, which are available to youth enrolled in specific summer programs.
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'Approximately 215,000 meals will be served at 60 sites through the Summer Food Service Program, and consist of either breakfast, lunch or supper depending on the site,' Utah Food Bank says in a press release.
Multiple sites are located in the following counties: Davis, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Piute, Salt Lake, San Juan, Utah, Washington, and Weber counties. Service dates and meal times vary depending on the location.
To find more information and a meal site near you, visit the summer meals page on the . You can also text 'SUMMER' to 914-342-7744 to find other services that provide free meals across Utah. The USDA National Hunger Hotline can also assist with finding services; call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE.
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'Summer can be an especially tough time for families,' Ginette Bott, President & CEO of Utah Food Bank, is quoted in the press release. 'When schools close, many children no longer have access to the free or reduced-price meals they rely on during the year. That puts added pressure on families already struggling to make ends meet. Unfortunately, summer is also when donations tend to drop, making it one of the most challenging times for us to meet the growing need for food assistance.'
Due to this increased need for assistance, Utah Food Bank would like to remind those who are in a position to help that they can assist by donating food or setting up a food or funding drive. These drives directly support programs like the Summer Food Service Program. Find out how to support them .
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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