This is purely US based, but it is a nationwide program. I'm not sure if the program itself is specifically age restricted aside from school-aged, but it could help a lot of people in need. This has been fact checked by Snopes as well to confirm the validity of it. Below the image I have copy and pasted the article that snopes wrote out about the organization running the 877877 number. I know what it is like to have to fight and struggle for food, so please spread this where you can. Even if your kids or you aren't going hungry someone else's family might be.
This is a real phone number, a real program, and an accurate message. The text information service is run by No Kid Hungry, an initiative of the non-profit organization Share Our Strength.
No Kid Hungry has access to information about tens of thousands of groups serving free meals nationwide as part of the the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program.
Once the free meal providers register with the USDA, No Kid Hungry makes their location and hours available to the public via the 877-877 number. To use the service, text “FOOD” to 877-877 and enter your zip code when prompted. Spanish-speakers can also text “COMIDA” to 877-877.
You can also locate registered, licensed free meal providers using this interactive map on the USDA website.
Unfortunately, your nearest free meal provider may not be in your town. This is because, by law, sites are only allowed in areas where 50% of schoolchildren or more are eligible for free or low-cost school meals, according to the USDA. You can check whether your local area is eligible to host a Summer Food Service Program site, using this map.
However, even if your neighborhood isn’t eligible for a free meals provider, there is no restriction on you and your children traveling to the nearest site and getting free meals there.
The summer program is federally funded and administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which also runs the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program during the academic year, as well as the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
According to a spokesperson for the No Kid Hungry campaign, the Summer Food Service Program served 177 million free meals at 47,816 sites across the U.S. in 2016.
This is a real phone number, a real program, and an accurate message. The text information service is run by No Kid Hungry, an initiative of the non-profit organization Share Our Strength.
No Kid Hungry has access to information about tens of thousands of groups serving free meals nationwide as part of the the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program.
Once the free meal providers register with the USDA, No Kid Hungry makes their location and hours available to the public via the 877-877 number. To use the service, text “FOOD” to 877-877 and enter your zip code when prompted. Spanish-speakers can also text “COMIDA” to 877-877.
You can also locate registered, licensed free meal providers using this interactive map on the USDA website.
Unfortunately, your nearest free meal provider may not be in your town. This is because, by law, sites are only allowed in areas where 50% of schoolchildren or more are eligible for free or low-cost school meals, according to the USDA. You can check whether your local area is eligible to host a Summer Food Service Program site, using this map.
However, even if your neighborhood isn’t eligible for a free meals provider, there is no restriction on you and your children traveling to the nearest site and getting free meals there.
The summer program is federally funded and administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which also runs the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program during the academic year, as well as the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
According to a spokesperson for the No Kid Hungry campaign, the Summer Food Service Program served 177 million free meals at 47,816 sites across the U.S. in 2016.
You are an excellent human for sharing this!
My mother in law is a schoolteacher for elementary level children (for 20 or more years now) and I sent her this link.
Turns out she said her teaching area has been involved in this wonderful program for years now, and that it really is a great program!
My mother in law is a schoolteacher for elementary level children (for 20 or more years now) and I sent her this link.
Turns out she said her teaching area has been involved in this wonderful program for years now, and that it really is a great program!
I'm not in the US, but I just wanted to say that this is amazing.
Fighting for food everyday was a struggle for my family from late 2017 to mid 2018. The feeling isn't nice, especially when you can barely afford to buy lunch at school.
If we had had access to things like this, it would've helped so much. Take advantage of what you get of you need it. It's not worth being stubborn and losing out on something so kind and generous.
Fighting for food everyday was a struggle for my family from late 2017 to mid 2018. The feeling isn't nice, especially when you can barely afford to buy lunch at school.
If we had had access to things like this, it would've helped so much. Take advantage of what you get of you need it. It's not worth being stubborn and losing out on something so kind and generous.
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