June 1, 2026
Nourishing kids all summer long
Nutritious, plant-forward meals help children grow, stay energized and make the most of their summer months. But when school is out, the reliable school meals that many families depend on disappear, and summer can quickly become a time of real uncertainty around food.
Understanding the need
Food insecurity and under-nutrition are closely connected challenges that continue to affect families across Washington state and beyond. Food insecurity means a household doesn’t have consistent access to enough food for a healthy life. Under-nutrition means the body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs to grow and thrive. For far too many families, both are an everyday reality.
In Washington, the number of people struggling to put food on the table more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many are still feeling that impact today. In Washington state, 1 in 6 kids face food insecurity. Nearly one-third of students in Seattle Public Schools receive free or reduced-price lunch, meaning a lot of children and teens face real uncertainty about where their next meal will come from.
Federal nutrition programs like SNAP help bridge the gap for some families, but many don’t qualify and rely instead on local food banks, pantries and community organizations. These challenges are not felt equally. Communities of color, migrants, Indigenous populations and refugees are disproportionately affected, with disparities rooted in poverty, systemic inequity and social injustice. Globally, the impact is profound: millions of children experience chronic malnutrition and too many lives are cut short due to undernutrition.
Why summer matters
Summertime puts added strain on families whose children receive free and reduced-price meals during the school year. Historically in King County, fewer than 20% of kids who access those meals during the school year are able to access free meals over the summer. That gap is significant.
To help address it, schools and community organizations can operate summer meal sites using federal funds from the Summer Food Service Program. The program provides free meals to all children ages 0 through 18 in areas where 50% or more of kids qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Ensuring kids have access to nourishing food where they live, learn and play is a year-round goal, and it becomes especially urgent during the summer months.
Equitable access to nourishing food is a human right, and there are meaningful ways to support that through volunteerism and financial contributions.
Community spotlight: United Way’s Summer Meals Program
Over the past decade, United Way of King County has significantly expanded its summer meals program by partnering with organizations to provide meals and staffing support at more than 70 meal sites across King County. They also lead statewide outreach and marketing for the program.
Starting June 27, children ages 1 through 18 across Seattle will receive healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner meals throughout the summer.
You can be a part of this work. Volunteer with United Way to help alleviate hunger in our communities. Join the Backpack Brigade to deliver food to students in need or pack meals for children experiencing homelessness and food insecurity who need relief over the weekend.
Finding summer meals near you
Seattle’s Summer Food Service Program operates June 24 through August 18, 2026, at a variety of locations including parks, community centers and schools, serving kids ages 1 through 18 when school is not in session.
The United Way of King County summer meals search tool makes it easy to find sites near you, with sponsor, site and meal information alongside online mapping.
Additional resources:
Support this work
Through the UWCFD, you can support nonprofit organizations working to provide equitable access to nourishing food in our communities. Make a one-time gift or set up an ongoing payroll deduction by searching for a charity by name or cause. If you don’t see the organization you’re looking for, reach out at uwcfd@uw.edu and we’ll work to get them added.
Your gift makes a difference.
