LANSING, Mich. — Michigan children will continue to benefit from free, healthy and nutritious meals during the summer months in 2026, the Michigan Department of Education announced.

MDE will offer meals through two programs that are part of the Summer Food Service Program.

The first is Meet Up and Eat Up (SUN Meals). Children 18 and younger can get free meals at Meet Up and Eat Up sites in areas that qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Meals must be eaten at the site.

The second option is SUN Meals to Go (rural non-congregate). In rural low-income areas, families can pick up meals to take home. Up to seven days of meals can be given at once and taken home.

This program is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and run by MDE’s Office of Nutrition Services.

“We want to put all students first and make sure they have access to the healthy meals that they need to learn and grow — whether it’s during the school year or the summer,” State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko said in a news release. “The Summer Food Service Program advances Goal 3 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan by improving the health, safety and wellness of all learners.”

Last summer, Michigan served nearly 9 million meals to children — almost 2 million more than the year before. MDE is committed to helping families stay healthy and to reducing hunger.

Anyone who would like to learn more or groups that would like to sponsor meal sites by providing food for children during the summer, may email MDE-SFSP@Michigan.gov, call 517-241-5374, or go to the Summer Food Service Program webpage for details.

Information about locations and days and hours of operations for sites will be available for families to view on the webpage in late spring and updated daily after finalization of the schedule.