LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Department of Education recently announced an opportunity for students and families to have access to free meals this summer. 

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“All summer, children 18 and under can eat healthy, satisfying meals in their own communities at no cost. No application forms required, no registration needed, and no proof of residency asked for — just show up and enjoy a meal! All meals must be eaten at the site,” the Department of Education said. 

There is also an interactive map available to help families find the nearest food locations. 

Meet Up and Eat Up’s summer meals program helps ensure that “children in lower-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs,” according to the Michigan Department of Education. 

More than 1,800 schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, parks, and faith based facilities statewide help provide an environment to give away the food, providing more than 3.4 million meals in Michigan according to the Summer Food Service Program. 

Offering free breakfast and lunch to students in the K-12 Public school attendees during the regular school year has also been a priority for Governor Gretchen Whitmer and her administration during her second term, as she included a $160 million budget item in her Fiscal year 2024 education budget proposal to aide in this effort. 

Advocates had supported the reinstatement of the Healthy School Meals for All Program, such as Dr. Diane Golzynski, Interim Deputy Superintendent, Finance and Operations at the Michigan Department of Education. 

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“Providing meals in the same way we provide books and transportation provides equity for all students, reduces hunger, creates goodwill with families and communities, enables all students to be prepared for learning, and provides much needed income flexibility for families,” Dr. Golzynski said. 

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the federal government provided funding to the states to provide school meals for students through the Healthy School Meals for All program.  That funding ceased this school year, and so far only five states have picked up the tab on providing those meals for free to students again.