LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The school year is ending for many Kentuckiana students and that means some children may miss meals they would normally have at their school.
Between rising costs of goods and cuts to federal programs, including SNAP and SUN Bucks, many families worry about feeding every mouth for the next few months.
Jennie Jean Davidson, Executive Director of Louisville's nonprofit Neighborhood House in the Portland neighborhood knows all too well the hardships families with school-aged children are facing.
"All of a sudden your grocery bill doubles because everyone needs to eat three meals a day at home," Davidson said.
Thousands of students across Kentuckiana rely on school breakfasts and lunches to get them through the day. Recent statistics show one in five children across Kentuckiana don't know where their next meal will come from.
As the school year comes to a close, many families now scramble to figure out how to afford their next grocery trip. That's why local schools, community centers, libraries, and other agencies are providing meals for students.
Jefferson County Resources
JCPS will offer summer meals to anyone 18-years-old or younger. Breakfast and lunches will be available at more than 70 school summer programs and 40 mobile sites. That's from May 27 through July 25, 2025.
A JCPS spokesperson also said there will be three drive- thru bulk meal sites this summer. That's for families who live in more rural areas of Jefferson County where they don’t have easy access to one of the 110 meal sites.
Pictured: a flyer from Jefferson County Public Schools with information about the district's summer meal program.
Last year, JCPS distributed thousands of meals to families in need, and the district is planning to do it again this year. People are encouraged to use the district's helpful Summer Meal Finder web portal to find locations distributing food near them.
Neighborhood House, in the Portland neighborhood, will also feed kids during the nonprofit's Dreamers' Academy. That's also where students from kindergarten to 12th grade will have art classes and weekly field trips.
"It's a really nice option for families who rely on free and reduce lunches during the school year," Davidson said. "To have activities, learn, be safe, but also be fed."
There are still a few spots open for the program. Click here for more information.
The Kentucky Department of Education is helping with its national Summer Food Service Program, also called Sun Meals. That program provides free meals to students 18 and younger in low-income areas. The Sun Meals program starts at the end of May and continues through August.
During that time, more than 2,000 meal sites will be set up throughout the state. Many of those locations will require folks to eat their meals on-site, though some rural areas may offer to-go options.
Another summer nutrition program in Jefferson County is the Summer Backpack League.
Southern Indiana Resources
Across the river in Indiana, the state's board of education is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Click Here for more information or to find sites where meals will be distributed.
However, the state opted out of its SUN Bucks Summer EBT program for 2025. The federal program usually provides $120 to families of eligible students to help pay for groceries and meals during the summer break.
Pictured: a flyer from Floyd County in southern Indiana with information about free food distribution sites for students during the summer break.
All SUN Bucks cards issued in 2024 have expired and can no longer be accessed. Those cards may be thrown away.
To make up for the food gap, various organizations in Floyd County are stepping up, serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks. A couple of locations include the Park View Recreation Center, Hazelwood Middle School, and The Floyd County Library.
Last summer, the library fed about 70 kids on any given day.
"We think it makes perfect sense for the library to be a safe place for kids during the summer, where they can go to feed their bodies and their minds while school is out," said Aaron Willams, the library's assistant director of operations.
Greater Clark County Schools will also provide free breakfast and lunch, starting June 2 and continuing through July 11.
Meals will be served from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and then again from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the following schools:
- River Valley Middle School
- Riverside Elementary School
- Franklin Square Elementary School
- Charlestown Middle School
- New Washington Elementary School
While these programs span several communities, they all have the same goal: offsetting the food insecurity for some of Kentuckiana's most vulnerable.
"It's not a 100% solution, but it can really take the pressure off the summer grocery bill," Davidson said.
There are also food banks and other local food pantries available year-round in Kentucky and Indiana. Here's a list of food banks and other resources:
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