- Executive Office of Education
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
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Jacqueline Reis
EVERETT — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that they have awarded a total of $535,000 in state funding to 55 organizations that sponsor and operate Summer Eats meal sites across Massachusetts. This funding follows the administration’s call for additional organizations to sponsor Summer Eats meal sites and supports additional meal sites and expanded food access for children.
Summer Eats provides children 18 years of age and younger with free, healthy meals over the summer months when they do not have access to school meals. Meal sites include schools and other community locations, from parks to summer camps.
“We are making sure that no child in Massachusetts goes hungry during the summer months,” said Governor Maura Healey. “As families face rising grocery costs and federal cuts to food assistance, programs like Summer Eats are more important than ever. These grants will help expand access to free, healthy meals so kids can stay nourished, active and ready to learn all summer long. We’re grateful to the organizations across Massachusetts stepping up to make sure kids have access to healthy meals all summer long.”
“Summer Eats works because of the local partners who show up for kids and families in every corner of our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This funding helps more communities open sites, reach more children and make sure families know where to turn for free, healthy meals during the summer.”
Summer Eats, formally known as the Summer Food Service Food Program, is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Massachusetts, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) administers the Summer Food Service Program and provides sponsors with technical support. Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Program provides outreach assistance.
The administration has been focused on expanding access to healthy, local food for families and children, including making universal free school meals permanent and creating an Anti-Hunger Task Force. In collaboration with the task force, the administration recently released recommendations that included strengthening nutrition programs, including increasing Summer Eats participation in communities most impacted by the federal government’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“We know that families’ grocery bills increase in the summer when kids do not have access to school meals. With federal cuts to SNAP benefits and rising food insecurity, access to programs like Summer Eats has never been more important. I am pleased we are able to offer this funding, helping expand healthy food access for kids during summer months across the state,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike.
“Hunger does not take a break in the summer,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “Our commitment to supporting children and families includes healthy meals so that students can keep growing and learning in the summer months.”
Many Summer Eats programs will open before July 4 and will continue serving meals through the end of August. For more information on Summer Eats, including how to become a site sponsor, call Project Bread at 617-723-5000. During the summer, families can find meal sites through Project Bread’s website.
Last summer, an average of 59,000 kids received a meal daily at a Summer Eats site, and 2.5 million meals were served.
“Providing free access to breakfast and lunch every day at all public schools in Massachusetts is one of my proudest achievements from my time in the legislature,” said Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Summer Eats is a critical program to ensure children continue to have reliable and nutritious meals when school is out of session.”
“The Legislature and the Administration have worked hard to ensure students across the Commonwealth have access to universal school meals,” said Representative Ken Gordon, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “I’m proud that we are now extending this essential support through the summer months, helping ensure no child goes hungry when school is out.”
“Project Bread partners with new and returning Summer Eats providers to ensure that this critical program continues to support families statewide while kids are home during the summer months,” said Erin McAleer, president and CEO of Project Bread. “Summer Eats is a vital program for the 37 percent of Massachusetts households with children currently struggling to afford enough to eat. We are proud to partner with the Healey-Driscoll administration and DESE on the program to strengthen and boost participation so children across the Commonwealth can have free healthy meals all summer long.”
“On behalf of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, we applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration and DESE for the investment in the Summer Eats program,” said Dr. Mary M. Bourque, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. “Access to nutritious meals during the summer months is essential to supporting the health, well-being, and readiness of children across the Commonwealth. These grants will help communities strengthen critical supports for students and families when school is not in session.”
“At YMCAs across Massachusetts, we see firsthand how critical reliable access to healthy meals is for children and families during the summer months,” said Kate-Marie Roycroft, CEO of the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs. “These Summer Eats grants help ensure that kids can continue to grow, learn, and thrive even when school is out of session. We’re grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for prioritizing child nutrition and supporting community-based organizations that are working every day to combat food insecurity and strengthen family well-being across the Commonwealth.”
“The Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their continued commitment to ensuring children across the Commonwealth have access to healthy meals during the summer months,” said Jennifer Aldworth, executive director of the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. “Programs like Summer Eats are critical for families facing rising food costs and help ensure young people remain healthy, active, and ready to learn. Boys & Girls Clubs across Massachusetts are proud to partner in this important effort and serve as trusted community spaces where youth can access nutritious meals, supportive relationships, and enriching summer experiences.”
The grant awardees are:
- Belchertown Public Schools: $8,895
- Blackstone-Millville Public Schools: $2,225
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill: $2,225
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell: $8,895
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield: $11,120
- Boys & Girls Club of Lynn: $11,120
- Boys & Girls Club of Metro South: $10,705
- Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham: $6,670
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: $15,520
- Brockton Public Schools: $13,340
- Cape Cod YMCA: $11,120
- Chicopee Public Schools: $13,340
- Church of the Holy Spirit: $15,560
- City of Cambridge: $15,560
- Clarksburg School District: $4,445
- Crossroads for Kids: $11,120
- Dedham Public Schools: $11,120
- Fitchburg Public Schools: $8,070
- Friendly House, Inc.: $9,835
- Gill-Montague Regional School District: $7,410
- Girls Incorporated of Lynn: $6,665
- Greater Fall River Re-creation: $15,560
- Hockomock Area YMCA: $8,895
- Lee Public Schools: $6,670
- Lowell Public Schools: $17,400
- Merrimack Valley Food Bank: $2,515
- Merrimack Valley YMCA: $890
- MetroWest YMCA: $11,115
- Millbury Public Schools: $6,160
- Monson Public Schools: $2,445
- Mystic Valley YMCA: $8,705
- New Bedford Recreation Department: $8,895
- New Bedford Public Schools: $17,785
- Newton Public Schools: $4,445
- North Adams Public Schools: $12,170
- North Attleborough Public Schools: $6,670
- Northampton Public Schools: $3,320
- Old Colony YMCA: $8,515
- Oxford Public Schools: $1,945
- Pittsfield Public Schools: $11,605
- Ralph C. Mahar Regional School (in Orange): $4,445
- Reading Public Schools: $8,895
- Revere Public Schools: $15,560
- Rockland Public Schools: $13,340
- Salem Public Schools: $13,340
- Shaloh House Oholei Torah: $8,895
- Southbridge Public Schools: $6,670
- Spanish American Center, Inc.: $8,895
- Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District: $7,585
- Springfield Public Schools: $20,010
- Triton Regional School District: $11,120
- Waltham Boys & Girls Clubs: $13,335
- Worcester Public Schools: $13,340
- YMCA of Greater Boston: $20,010
- YMCA of Metro North: $8,895
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Executive Office of Education
