Dayton, Ohio – School may be out for the summer, but Montgomery County officials are reminding families that free meals remain available for children through a program designed to help ensure young people have access to nutritious food while classes are not in session.
The SUN Meals Program is providing free meals to children ages 1 through 18 across Montgomery County throughout the summer months. Officials say the program is open to all eligible children regardless of household income, and families do not need to complete any pre-registration before participating.
Local leaders are encouraging parents and caregivers to take advantage of the resource, which is intended to help reduce food insecurity during the school break.
“Summer should not mean uncertainty about where a child’s next meal will come from,” Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge said. “SUN Meals helps ensure children throughout Montgomery County have access to nutritious food while school is out, giving families one less thing to worry about during the summer months. We encourage parents and caregivers to take advantage of this valuable resource.”
Nearly 70 meal sites available across the county
The program is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, while Montgomery County’s Food Equity Coalition is helping spread awareness about the initiative.
Families can visit any participating location and children can receive meals on-site at no cost. Many locations are serving both breakfast and lunch, while some sites also offer grab-and-go meal options to provide additional convenience for families with busy schedules.
Officials report that nearly 70 sites are currently participating throughout Montgomery County, and additional locations may be added as the summer continues.
Several locations are already serving meals on a regular basis. At the Dayton Metro Library West Branch, lunch is available from noon until 1 p.m. every weekday through July 31.
Meanwhile, Dunbar High School is offering breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays through July 31.
Additional participating locations include Triangle View Apartments, which serves lunch from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday through Aug. 7, and Eagle Ridge Apartments, where lunch is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through July 31.
Helping families during the summer break
The SUN Meals Program is designed to fill a gap that often emerges when schools close for summer vacation and students lose regular access to school-provided meals.
County officials say the program not only helps children receive healthy food but also eases financial pressure on families during the summer months.
With dozens of participating locations spread throughout Montgomery County and no income requirements for participation, leaders hope more families will take advantage of the opportunity. Officials encourage parents and caregivers to review the complete list of participating sites through the Montgomery County Food Equity Coalition and find the location most convenient for their family.
As summer continues, organizers say the goal remains simple: ensuring that children across Montgomery County have reliable access to nutritious meals while school is out.
