Michigan’s Summer Food Service Program Will Continue This Summer
Program Reached Nearly 4 Million Households in 2024
LANSING – Michigan children will continue to benefit from free, healthy, and nutritious meals during the summer months in 2025, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced.
The Meet Up and Eat Up Summer Food Service Program serves children up to age 18 living in low-income areas where 50% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sun Meals to Go program, which in Michigan is referred to as the Rural Non-Congregate program, is available to Michigan children in areas that
are designated as rural according to the USDA. Non-congregate meal service means that families pick up more than one day’s worth of Meals to Go from the site, usually once a week. MDE administers both the Summer Food Service and Rural Non-Congregate programs
through its Office of Nutrition Services.
“There is a vital need to reach out to the state’s most vulnerable young people to provide nutritious food,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “MDE remains committed to
leveraging every available option to feed more children during the summer.”
In 2024, the Rural Non-Congregate option for summer feeding sponsors grew and reached 3.9 million households of eligible children in Michigan. That year, there were 1,470 dedicated
Summer Food Service Program sites throughout the state that helped serve over 7 million meals to families to provide food security for children.
With the continuous support of sponsors, the Rural Non-Congregate and Meet Up and Eat Up Summer Food Service programs are expected to serve even more children.
Anyone interested in fighting hunger in children by serving meals or for more information can contact
mde-sfsp@michigan.gov or call 517-241-5374.
For more information about how to apply for the programs and eligibility, please visit the
Summer Food Service Program website.
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