This summer, the Newholly Library in Southeast Seattle offered more than books and story time: they also offered a free supper to youth through United Way’s Free Summer Meals program. More than 40 kids came to the library each day for a free meal, served alongside crafts and hands-on educational activities that kept kids learning through the summer months.

More than 1 in 6 kids in our community struggles with hunger, and the Free Summer Meals program provides families with safe and easy access to food during the summer months. Nearly 80% of families who live near the Newholly Library are low-income, and the meals at the library helped them bridge the gap between June and August, when kids can no longer receive free breakfast and lunch at school.

This year, United Way’s Free Summer Meals program served over 500,000 meals, reaching more 10,500 kids across King County every day. In collaboration with partners like the City of Seattle and Multi-Service Center in Federal Way, we launched more than 20 new Free Summer Meals sites – including the site at the Newholly Library.

Every child should have access to nourishing food all year long.  With donor support, United Way works to expand federal child nutrition programs, like the Free Summer Meals program, and create equitable access to food for kids and teens in our community. Donors and partners like No Kid Hungry, AmeriCorps, Wells Fargo, Farmers Insurance, Seattle Children’s, Kellogg’s, and Net-Tech make the Free Summer Meals program possible – and ensure that families throughout King County have consistent access to healthy food. Thank you for your partnership to support students and families this summer.

Learn more about United Way’s work to connect kids to healthy meals – during the school day and beyond.