Louisiana Kids Can Get Free Summer Meals at Hundreds of Sites

KNGT | Louisiana — Let's face it, summertime gets a little expensive with the kiddos being home. And the constantly want snacks all day long. I know some families here in Southwest Louisiana are stretching every penny they can just to get ready to buy school supplies and school cloths. But don't worry, there is some help out there.

The Summer Food Service Program is back across Louisiana, and it helps make sure kids don't go hungry while school's out. If you've got children ages 0 through 18, they may be able to get free, nutritious meals at locations all across the state.

Some meal sites are called open sites, which means any child can stop by during the scheduled meal times and eat right there on site. Other locations, mostly in rural areas, are non-congregate sites. All depending on where you live, and what is in your area.

One thing I love about calling Southwest Louisiana home is how folks always seem to step up when somebody needs a hand. We always lookout for our neighbor and that to me is why I would never consider moving. Maybe you know someone that needs a little help this summer or you might need some help. Just know that there are programs that can help.

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How to find summertime meals in Louisiana

According to FeedingLouisiana.org you can use the online Summer Meals Site Finder to search by your location and see what's available nearby. If you'd rather talk to someone, call 1-866-348-6479 and they'll help you find the closest site.

You can also text Summer Meals to 97779 to receive information on nearby meal locations. Spanish-speaking families can text Verano to 97779.

The food banks recommend giving them a call since there are different times and locations, A lot of us are blessed enough not to need a program like this. But every one of us probably knows somebody who does. So if this isn't for your family, maybe share it anyway. It might pop up in front of someone who needs it today.

Together we can make sure that no one goes hungry this summer. And we can make sure that every hungry child has something to eat.