The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh are offering food programs to provide free meals for children while they are out of school this summer.

USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded program that provides free meals to children to ensure they receive the same high-quality nutrition when schools are closed.

Children, ages 18 and younger, can receive meals through the SFSP. Meals are served at sites located in areas with significant concentrations of children from low-income families. All meals and snacks served through the SFSP must meet federal nutrition standards.

The USDA’s Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder mapping tool provides directions to nearby meal sites as well as hours of operation and contact information. 

There are two types of summer meals sites – eat-on sites, where meals and snacks must be eaten at the location and where children will be able to take part in other enrichment activities with other children, and meals-to-go, where meals and snacks can be picked up to eat off site.

This year, there are 17 sites in the Pittsburgh area that are offering summer meals. To find the site nearest you, search the site finder map.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

The Summer Youth Cafe is a federally funded child nutrition program that provides healthy meals while schools are out for summer. 

The food bank’s sites are open to anyone ages 18 years and younger at no cost. Once school is out for the summer, those interested in the program can visit the food bank’s website and follow instructions to find the closest site. 

Schools or organizations that are interested in serving free summer meals to children should email childnutrition@pittsburghfoodbank.org. 

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The library will offer meals and snacks for children and teenagers at six locations on various dates from June through August. The locations include:

• CLP – Allegheny: Cold lunch offered Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (June 24-Aug. 23)
• CLP – Beechview: Snacks offered Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (June 24-Aug.23)
• CLP – Hill District: Cold lunch offered Tuesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (June 25-Aug.23)
• CLP – Homewood: Cold lunch offered Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (June 24-Aug. 16)
• CLP – Knoxville: Cold lunch offered Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (June 24-Aug. 16)
• CLP – Woods Run: Cold lunch offered Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m. (June 24-Aug. 23)

Meals are for youths, ages 18 and younger, and people with disabilities up to age 21.