Lexington ramps up summer meal programs as school break leaves thousands of kids without access to food

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — With school officially out for summer, thousands of children across Kentucky are at risk of losing access to the free or reduced-price meals they rely on during the school year. But local organizations and school districts are stepping up to help.

God’s Pantry Food Bank says food insecurity increases during the summer months, especially for families with children. According to the organization, one in six people in Kentucky—and one in five in Central and Eastern Kentucky—struggles with hunger.

“To help close the nutritional gap, we’ve opened 30 feeding sites across nine counties,” said Michael Halligan, CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank. “Last year, we served over 30,000 snacks and meals. This year, we expect the same or even more.”

Fayette County Public Schools also operates a summer feeding program, offering free meals to anyone 18 or younger—no enrollment required.

“There is food insecurity, and we want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to enjoy meals throughout the summer,” said Michelle Coker with FCPS. “It’s about nourishing minds, bodies, and souls.”

The future of some federal support programs remains uncertain. Halligan voiced concern over the impact of President Donald Trump’s recently proposed budget bill—what he referred to as the “big, beautiful bill”—which could affect families who rely on Summer EBT or SNAP benefits.

“That’s unconscionable,” Halligan said. “We’re working with the Senate to see if there are alternatives to balancing the federal budget without taking food off a child’s table.”

While Fayette County officials say the local summer meal programs are not immediately threatened by the bill, they are watching closely for possible impacts on school-year meal programs.

Resources for free meals this summer are available through both God’s Pantry and FCPS.

If you need more information on how you can benefit from the summer meals programs, you can click either of the following links:

God’s Pantry Food Bank or, USDA summer meals