Nearly 11 million free summer meals served to Kentucky children in 2025
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
FRANKFORT, Ky., (KBSI) — Nearly 11 million free meals were served to Kentucky children during the summer of 2025, marking the first time summer meal programs were available in all 120 counties, according to new data released by No Kid Hungry Kentucky, the Kentucky Department of Education and Feeding Kentucky.
Between May and August, providers served almost 11 million meals statewide, up from 8.1 million in summer 2024 and 5.3 million in summer 2023.
Officials credited much of the expansion to SUN Meals to Go, a grab-and-go option that allows families, particularly in rural areas, to pick up multiple days’ worth of meals to eat off-site or at home. Sponsors in 113 counties served more than 9.1 million SUN Meals to Go during the summer, accounting for 83% of all summer meals provided in Kentucky.
“Children who depend on school lunch and breakfast can now access healthy summer meals in every Kentucky county,” said Cathy Gallagher, summer food service program manager at the Kentucky Department of Education. “This helps ensure kids return to school healthy and ready to learn.”
Long-standing gaps in summer meal access in Caldwell and Green counties were closed in 2025 after Caldwell County Schools and Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland Food Bank became sponsors. The expansion was supported by No Kid Hungry Kentucky, the Kentucky Department of Education and Feeding Kentucky’s Kentucky Kids Eat program.
Public libraries also played a key role, serving as sponsors or meal sites in roughly one-third of Kentucky counties. Libraries in Green and Casey counties, where no summer meals were available in 2024, helped establish service in 2025.
“Summer can be the hungriest time of year for kids when school meals aren’t available,” said John Cain, Kentucky Kids Eat program director at Feeding Kentucky and co-manager of No Kid Hungry Kentucky. “This progress shows how schools, food banks, libraries and state agencies can work together to reduce child hunger when school is out.”
The Kentucky Department of Education supports all 171 public school districts statewide, while Feeding Kentucky operates a network of seven Feeding America food banks serving all 120 counties. No Kid Hungry works nationwide to end childhood hunger through expanded access to nutrition programs.
