FRANKFORT, Ky. – For the first time, every county in Kentucky offered free summer meals to children, marking a historic milestone, officials reported. No Kid Hungry Kentucky, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), and Feeding Kentucky celebrated the achievement.
Between May and August 2025, nearly 11 million free summer meals were served, up from 8.1 million in 2024 and 5.3 million in 2023. The expansion was aided by SUN Meals to Go, allowing families—especially in rural areas—to pick up meals for off-site consumption.
“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 KDE, noting the program’s role in keeping kids healthy and ready to learn.
Local efforts also played a key role. In Caldwell and Green counties, schools and Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland Food Bank became meal sponsors, while public libraries in Lawrence, Green, and Casey counties helped fill service gaps from previous years.
“Without access to school meals, summer can be the hungriest time of year for kids across the Commonwealth,” said John Cain, Kentucky Kids Eat Program Director. He praised the collaboration between schools, food banks, libraries, and community organizations in fighting food insecurity during school breaks.
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