Summertime Hunger

Cans of food sit on the shelves of the food pantry at State College of Florida’s Bradenton campus. The school’s pantry has been open to students in need for the last several years.

Florida will not participate in the 2025 federal summer food program

Gabriella Paul

The program known as Sun Bucks offers eligible parents in participating states a total of $120 per child to assist with the cost of groceries over the summer months.

Grab-and-go lunches are being prepped at a Summer BreakSpot location in July. The meal sites, which are backed by Florida's Department of Agriculture, ramped up services in rural communities this summer after receiving additional funding from No Kid Hungry, according to a spokesperson.

State News

Florida again opts out of summer food assistance for kids

Gabriella Paul

Florida missed the Aug. 15 deadline to opt into the Sun Bucks program for 2025. The state opted out of the federal program this summer, too.

The interactive map with information about meal spots and hours of operation is updated daily.

State News

A tool shows where free lunches are available for Florida kids this summer

Gabriella Paul

The interactive map and texting hotline is provided by No Kid Hungry in partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

WFSU Local News

Summertime Is a Hungry Time for Too Many Kids

Summertime is a hungry time for too many kids