Summer Meal Meet-Ups offers free meals for kids this summer

Find a Site Near You

To find a meal site near you, click above, call 211,
or text “Food” or “Comida” to 304-304.

Summer Meal Meet-Ups, a program offering free meals to kids throughout the summer, invites anyone ages 18 and under to one of the many meal sites in Iowa to receive free and nutritious meals.

More than 40,000 students in central Iowa qualify for free or reduced-price meals, but approximately 3,000 children take advantage of free meals during the summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic, its anticipated that this number has grown.

“Summer Meal Meet-Up’s is one element to United Way of Central Iowa’s OpportUNITY Plan to fight poverty, focusing on increasing access to food as a basic and essential need for children and families to thrive,” said Renée Miller, Chief Community Impact Officer at United Way of Central Iowa. “Summer Meal Meet-Ups help ensure the children in our community continue to receive healthy food when they’re not in school. Right now, with so many kids more isolated than ever, this opportunity to receive food is more critical than ever.”

Meal sites are located at schools, parks, or other organizations, and site sponsors – or hosts – are approved by the Iowa Department of Education. These meal sites will provide activities, educational opportunities, and a free meal for anyone up to age 18. No registration or sign up is required. Due to changes at the federal level, sites will not be able to offer grab and go meals and meals must be consumed on-site.

To find a meal site near you, go to www.summermealsia.org, call 211, or text “Food” or “Comida” to 304-304. Services are available in English and Spanish.

Find a Site Near You

To find a meal site near you, click above, call 211,
or text “Food” or “Comida” to 304-304.


OpportUNITY Logo - stacked - tagline - color
Summer Meal Meet-Ups is part of United Way of Central Iowa's OpportUNITY initiative. OpportUNITY unites central Iowa to fight poverty together. The collective impact initiative is raising awareness that poverty and barriers to financial stability prevent central Iowans from thriving in the community and is engaging community members in reducing poverty through advocacy, education, and work groups focused on specific issues.

Learn More About OpportUNITY


Summer Meal Meet-Ups Subgroup Members