Free lunch: Wake County program offers meals to kids during summer break

Wake County's summer meal program kicks off June 15. The county Summer Food Service Program, called SUN meals, is funded by the USDA to provide healthy, filling food when school is out.

Meals are available to children 0–18 at no cost and can be picked up daily at the follwing locations:

LocationAddressDays ServedMeals & TimesDatesHistoric Oak View County Park4028 Carya Drive, RaleighMondays - FridaysLunch: 11 a.m. - 12p.m.June 22 - July 31Poe Center for Health224 Sunnybrook Road, RaleighWednesdaysLunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.June 25 - July 30Sherrill’s University ofCosmetology3601 Bastion Lane, RaleighMondays - FridaysLunch: 12 p.m.- 1 p.m.June 22 - July 31Raleigh Church of Christ911 Barringer Drive, RaleighTuesdays & WednesdaysLunch: 12 p.m.- 2 p.m.June 24 - July 29The Rock Church2940 Trawick Road, RaleighFridaysLunch: 12 p.m.- 1 p.m.June 26 - July 31Regeneration Temple4000 Atlantic Ave Suite 116, RaleighMondays - FridaysLunch: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.June 22 - July 31Redeeming Love MissionaryBaptist Church3425 Rock Quarry Road, RaleighMondays & WednesdaysLunch: 1:30 p.m. -3 p.m.June 22 - July 31Wake County Public Health200 Swinburne St., RaleighTuesdays & ThursdaysLunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.June 16 - Aug. 6Peach Road Community Center911 Lleagnes Road, RaleighMondays - FridaysLunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.June 22 - July 31New Hope Baptist Church4301 Louisburg Road, RaleighMondays - FridaysLunch: 12 p.m. a.m. -1:30 p.m.June 29 - Aug. 7Fuquay-Varina Growers Market121 N. Main St., Fuquay-VarinaSaturdaysBreakfast: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.June 28 - Aug.16Pine Acres Community Center402 McLean St., Fuquay-VarinaMondays - FridaysLunch: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.June 22 - July 31Northern Regional Center350 E. Holding Ave., Wake ForestTuesdays, Wednesdays & ThursdaysLunch: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.June 23 - July 30Wendell Parks & Recreation601 W 3rd St., Wendell Tuesdays & FridaysLunch: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.June 23 - Aug. 4Beech Bluff County Park3321 NC-42, Willow SpringTuesdays & ThursdaysLunch: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.June 23 - July 30Wakefield Missionary Baptist Church809 Proctor St., ZebulonMondays - FridaysLunch: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.June 15 - Aug. 15

In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, Wake County served almost 37,000 breakfasts and about 100,000 lunches during the summer across 221 sites.

In September 2023, 62,474 children (39% of public school students in the county) were eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, and 31,152 of those students participated in the free and reduced-price lunch program at their school.