Child Nutrition Programs
In Alabama, over 250,000 children face food insecurity. That means 1 in 4 children experience hunger every day. Feeding Alabama, in collaboration with our eight food bank members, deploys a variety of programs to support children and families in need. These initiatives ensure kids have consistent access to nutritious meals during the summer, after school, on weekends, and throughout school breaks.
Summer Meals: Nourishing Kids, Supporting Families
Each year, many students lose access to school meals once summer begins—but we’re working to bridge that gap. Feeding Alabama is proud to support children and families during the 2025 summer through our Summer Meals Initiative, a 10-week program that helps ensure kids stay nourished when school is out.
During the summer of 2025, Feeding Alabama will provide meals at 15 community partner sites across four counties in North and Central Alabama. These efforts are made possible through private funding and grants, in partnership with trusted local organizations like YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and neighborhood-based groups.
In addition to providing meals through our Summer Meals Initiative, Feeding Alabama and our partners are working through a multi-pronged approach to close the summer hunger gap. These additional efforts ensure families across the state have access to nutritious food when school is out:
USDA Summer Meal Program
Free, nutritious meals are available to all children and teens under 18 at community sites across Alabama. No registration or paperwork is required. Find a site using the USDA Summer Meal Finder or contact the Alabama Department of Education by visiting https://www.breakforaplate.com/.
Alabama SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
A grocery benefits program offering a one-time payment of $120 per eligible school-age child to help families purchase food during the summer. Apply at: www.alabama-sunbucks.com. Support: Email [email protected] or call 1-800-443-3536.
Local Food Pantries
– Feeding Alabama partners with over 1,400 agencies across the state to distribute groceries and pantry staples directly to families. Find a pantry near you at: https://feedingalabama.org/need-help/
Benefits Enrollment Assistance
– The Benefits Enrollment Center helps families apply for SNAP, WIC, and other nutrition assistance programs with personalized support. Visit: benefitsenrollmentcenter.org or Call: 1-877-833-2550
Together, these programs help ensure Alabama’s children stay nourished and supported, no matter the season.
In addition to our summer efforts, Feeding Alabama and it’s network of food banks continues to support year-round child nutrition programs:
Afterschool Meals Program
When school is in session, schools, food banks, and community partners support afterschool programs that offer children healthy meals and snacks in safe, supervised environments. These sites also provide enrichment activities that help kids thrive both physically and emotionally. For more information visit https://www.breakforaplate.com/.
Backpack Food Programs
Backpack programs help limit weekend and school break hunger. Backpacks are filled with nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods that children can eat at home. Distributed through schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and community centers, these meals ensure kids return to school ready to learn.
School Pantry Programs
School pantries provide a convenient, stigma-free way for students and families to access food assistance. By partnering with schools and community organizations, our food banks set up pantries either within schools or nearby locations. These pantries are stocked with nutritious foods and may also offer recipe cards, on-site cooking demonstrations, and other helpful resources.
Child Anti-Hunger Advocacy
Feeding Alabama also advocates for broader awareness and policy change. As a member of Governor Kay Ivey’s End Child Hunger in Alabama Task Force, we work alongside state leaders to expand access to essential programs and services. We also serve on the task force’s College Hunger Coalition, helping bring attention to food insecurity among college students.Together, we’re committed to fighting hunger and supporting the health and success of Alabama’s children. If you or someone you know needs support, we’re here to help.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
[email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Para todos los demás programas de asistencia de nutrición del FNS, agencias estatales o locales y sus subreceptores, deben publicar la siguiente Declaración de No Discriminación: De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta entidad está prohibida de discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo identidad de género y orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad, o represalia o retorsión por actividades previas de derechos civiles. La información sobre el programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas que no sean el inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios alternos de comunicación para obtener la información del programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas americano (ASL), etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia local o estatal responsable de administrar el programa o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comuníquese con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339. Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el reclamante debe llenar un formulario AD-3027, formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, el cual puede obtenerse en línea en: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027s.pdf, de cualquier oficina de USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida a USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre del demandante, la dirección, el número de teléfono y una descripción escrita de la acción discriminatoria alegada con suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y fecha de una presunta violación de derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completado o la carta debe presentarse a USDA por: (1) (2) (3) correo: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; o fax: (833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; o correo electrónico: [email protected] Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.