FREE SUMMER MEAL SITES FOR KIDS – 2023
NO KID HUNGRY SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM!
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS!
Many children in North Carolina depend on school for their daily nutrition. When the traditional school year ends, the NC Summer Nutrition Programs makes sure there are still meals available at NO COST for kids who need them. No child should be hungry in our country or community. The purpose of the No Kid Hungry summer feeding program is to fill the gap in between school sessions so all children can thrive and succeed. Hunger should not be the obstacle that inhibits their growth as individuals in any way during their formative years.
Summer meals are open to ALL children and teens 18 and under. They do not have to be enrolled students at the districts, but all meals are dine in and must be consumed on-site
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To find the sites nearest you: Text FOOD to 304-304 and provide your full address, zip code or city when it asks
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OR choose to visit one of these sites in the school districts below
BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS
ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS
HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HAYWOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS
MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS
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OTHER FOOD RESOURCES
The MANNA FoodBank Partner Network of over 200 nonprofit pantries, meal sites, and other community-based organizations help residents access free food across 16 western North Carolina counties. Use their spreadsheet to find MANNA partners close to you, or search the up-to-date listing of food partners (by county). If you cannot access the map, or are having issues with finding a free food distribution near you, please call their Food Helpline for assistance at 1-800-820-1109. They can be reached Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. DISTRIBUTION SPREADSHEET HERE
The Bounty & Soul Produce to the People program focuses on providing equitable access to nutritious, culturally relevant food through no-cost weekly community-based markets. They operate three weekly markets and each is accompanied by wellness and nutrition program components. Anyone and everyone who believes they would benefit from the healthy food and education resources is welcome to participate in their markets. There is NO COST for the food or the other resources. LEARN MORE HERE
- TUESDAYS: 11:30am-1:00pm @ Bi-Lo | 205 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC
- WEDNESDAYS: 3:30pm-5:00pm @ Bounty & Soul Latino Market | 216 Whitson Avenue, Swannanoa, NC. “Este mercado al aire libre es sin costo alguno para nuestra comunidad LatinX. Para más información llame: (828)442-4321”
- FRIDAYS: 4:00pm-5:30pm @ Bi-Lo | 205 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC
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Image Credit: Bounty & Soul
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The YMCA Mobile Market Program brings fresh, healthy food to hundreds of families each month at dozens of locations in a five-county area, for all those seeking it, all year round. Bring a bag and load up for you and your family, no questions asked. Distributions are FREE and open to ALL! FIND THEIR MARKET SCHEDULE HERE
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Image Credit: YMCA
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The 12 Baskets Cafe is a cafe that serves 100% rescued food from local agencies, and “is a place for EVERYONE to come and share a meal in community – not just the homeless and marginalized. We would love to see more and more new faces in the cafe, eating a meal together with people they might never encounter in their day-to-day life. Having a steady income DOES NOT disqualify you. The cafe is currently open for TO-GO meals and grocery items on Tuesdays and Fridays 11:00am-1:00pm, and serves SIT-DOWN meals Mondays and Thursdays 11:00am-1:00pm. LEARN MORE HERE
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ABCCM’s downtown lunch site has transitioned to Our Daily Bread at Sonrise, 1543 Patton Ave. To-Go meals are served from 11:30am-1:00pm, Monday-Friday. The Crisis Ministry served more than 21,254 hot meals last year to members of our community. They also provide food boxes, gently used clothing, utility and rental assistance from their multiple other crisis ministry locations. LEARN MORE HERE
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The Haywood Street Congregation Downtown Welcome Table (297 Haywood St, Asheville, 28801) is a FREE Community Meal that rests on the assumption that food is a primary means of grace, a way to love and connect. It is a homemade meal served on abundant plates by an attentive wait staff. Lunch is served family style and folks are invited to linger over the meal as in a nice restaurant or dinner at home. Cloth napkins, flowers on the table, and china plates send the message “you deserve the very best” and are meant to counter the notion often held by those living on the streets that handouts, hand-me-downs and leftovers are all I deserve. Lunch is served continuously on Wednesdays from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm and breakfast onSundays from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. LEARN MORE HERE
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Image Credit: Haywood St Congregation
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Rosetta’s Kitchen & The Buchi Bar (68 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, 28801) believes that food is a human right. Their Everybody Eats Voucher Program is intended to serve the community, especially those in need all year. Everyday they serve the Rice and Beans Plate as part of the Everybody Eats policy. This sliding scale plate of fresh whole food is a menu item from which they DO NOT profit. They are, however committed to meeting their expenses in order to care for the farmers, vendors, and the employees they support. Offered at a sliding scale price of $3-$6+. Anything over $6 allows them to pay it forward so others in the community may eat. Pay what you can. Pay it forward. LEARN MORE HERE
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Image Credit: Rosetta’s
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St John’s Episcopal Church (290 Old Haw Creek Rd, Asheville, NC) hosts a FREE spaghetti supper on the 2nd Saturday of every month, 5:00pm-7:00pm, and all are welcome. Supper includes spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, bread, salad, and dessert.
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Image Credit: St John’s
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Montmorenci United Methodist Church (89 Old Candler Town Rd, Candler, NC) hosts a FREE Community Meal on the 3rd Thursday of every month, 6:00pm-7:00pm. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors. All are welcome! LEARN MORE HERE
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Image Credit: Montmorenci UMC
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Since 2015, Food Connection has been connecting the dots between those with too much food, to those without enough, by rescuing and redistributing freshly prepared food that otherwise would have been thrown away by restaurants, caterers, universities and retirement homes in Buncombe County. Much of this food is repacked into individual meals and served through the Food Connection Mobile Meals truck free of charge. Food Connection distributes complimentary heat and serve meals every Saturday at 11am at 105 Whitson Ave., Swannanoa. ALL are welcome. No questions asked. Meals include a meat, vegetable and starch. LEARN MORE HERE
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Image Credit: Food Connection
Interfaith Assistance Ministry Mobile Pantry will provide you with free nutritious food for a week for each member of your family. Offering traditional and Latino foods. Hendersonville community area. See their mobile pantry SCHEDULE HERE
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Image Credit: IAM
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Beloved Asheville Street Pantries are mini food pantries that are accessible 24/7, and stocked regularly with basic necessities by the hard working Beloved Asheville team and the community at large. They are filled with non perishables, toiletries, water, and other survival items. If you type Beloved Asheville Street Pantry into Google Maps (it must be Google Maps, not regular Google), it will return a map of all the street pantry locations. There are several all over the city.
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Image Credit: Beloved Asheville
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Hendersonville Rescue Mission at 639 Maple Street, Hendersonville NC. The food services at the Mission are quite unique in that the food is delicious and the entire public is welcome to join them for a meal, not just those staying in their living quarters. A square, hot meal that includes salad, meat and two veggies, as well as dessert, and in the summertime, you may find them outside having a cookout. LEARN MORE HERE
- Breakfast: Monday-Friday @ 7:30am
- Lunch: Monday-Friday @ 12:15pm, and Sundays @ 12:45pm
- Supper: Monday-Saturday @ 6:00pm
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Image Credit: Hendersonville Rescue Mission
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South French FREE Fridge at 382 South French Broad Avenue, Asheville. There is a dry goods section for non perishable food and hygiene products, and a fridge for stuff best kept cold.
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Southside Community Farm FREE Fridge in the garden behind the Arthur R. Edington Education Center at 133 Livingston Srreet, Asheville, under the pavilion. Fresh produce from the garden, perishables, and non perishables.
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Image Credit: Southside Community Garden
STILL TRYING TO CONFIRM IF THESE ARE STILL VALID AFTER COVID
LEICESTER WELCOME TABLE at the LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER @ 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester, 28748 … All are welcome to attend this weekly FREE meal that is prepared by local volunteers for our community. Great food and fellowship is served up every Wednesday from 11:30-1pm. Meals are funded by donations. *Welcome Table will be canceled only if there is no school in the Erwin district or Buncombe County Schools.
SKYLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH @ 1984 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, 28803. Welcome Table is served every Saturday in their Fellowship Hall from 9:30am-11:00am. Free Breakfast for all.
SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY KITCHEN WITH GREEN OPPORTUNITIES at the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center @ 133 Livingston Street, Asheville … Southside Community Kitchen is Green Opportunities’ soul food restaurant and interactive culinary classroom. GO Kitchen Ready students-in-training are responsible for prepping, cooking, and serving all meals in Southside Community Kitchen, allowing them to gain invaluable hands-on “back of house” experience operating a commercial kitchen and providing “front of house” dining room service. During the semester, the kitchen serves lunch/brunch to the community 3 days a week (Tues, Wed, & Thurs from 12:00pm-12:30pm), and at the end of the program a Showcase Pop-Up dinner. Donation based. Open to all, and all are welcome. A suggested donation of $5 is encouraged for those who are able to pay. All donations support their training program. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the menu and dates.
FERGUSON FAMILY YMCA @ 31 Westridge Market Pl, Candler, 28715 (in the Ferguson Y’s Multipurpose Room) AND CORPENING MEMORIAL YMCA @ 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, 28752 … WHAT’S THE DEAL: As part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the YMCA of WNC Nutrition Department hosts free meals for anyone under the age of 18 at the Ferguson Family YMCA and ALL AGES at the Corpening Memorial YMCA, every Saturday! We serve lunches from 11am -1pm, and your family does not have to be a member of the Y to participate. Please consider joining us for healthy food and enriching activities: kids yoga, art, ping pong, and more!