The East Texas Food Bank kicked off the free Summer Food Program for children on Tuesday, June 4 at 42 East Texas locations. 

“It’s so important to make sure children do not go hungry in the summer just because school is out,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Here in East Texas, 1 in 4 children are food insecure so it’s up to our community to make sure we fill that meal gap when the school year ends and kids lose access to free and reduced-price meals they depend on.” 

In 2023, the East Texas Food Bank served 42,000 meals to over 1,700 children throughout East Texas. This summer, ETFB will serve 64,000 meals to over 3,000 children. 

Meals are provided at various community sites Monday-Friday. There is no need to register. The program is for children 18 and younger.

Some locations offer breakfast and lunch but all offer lunch. Kids eat the meal at the location. Typical breakfast menus are cereal or breakfast bars, plus juice and milk, while lunch includes wraps, wedges, sandwiches with deli meat, pizza lunchables, fresh fruit and chocolate milk. 

Besides the meal, some of the locations at parks, churches and libraries offer other free activities for children. Check with the Summer Food Program you plan to visit for more information. 

ETFB also provides food at various campuses for kids enrolled in summer school, but these are not open to the public. 

In Wood County, the First Methodist Church of Quitman at 207 N. Goldsmith offers meals from July 1-Aug. 9 Monday through Friday for lunch from 11-1.

Jarvis Christian University, 1470 E. Hwy. 80 in Hawkins offers breakfast from 7:30-8 and lunch from 12-12:30 from June 4-Aug. 9.