July 15, 2025
ROCHESTER – With summer in full swing, thousands of Rochester children are diving into sports, camps, activities, and neighborhood fun. But for many families, summer also brings a pressing challenge: ensuring consistent access to nutritious meals when school cafeterias close. The Summer Meals Partnership of Rochester is once again stepping up to meet this need.
The city’s Summer Meals program began at dozens of local sites on June 30 and will run through Aug. 29. Children ages 18 and under can receive free, healthy breakfasts and lunches at locations across the city — including schools, churches, R-Centers, and other trusted community sites. Participation in a specific program is not required; youth can simply stop by during scheduled times to enjoy a meal on-site.
Families can access a full list of available sites by visiting SummerMealsROC.org.
This vital initiative is made possible through a collaboration between Foodlink, the City of Rochester, the Rochester City School District, and community partners such as Common Ground Health and the Rochester Area Community Foundation. The meals are prepared and delivered by the Foodlink Community Kitchen and the Rochester City School District, ensuring quality and consistency throughout the summer.
“Expanding access to healthy food is a primary objective for my Administration, and closing the food and learning gap among Rochester’s children is a critical part of that equation,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans “I encourage all parents who live with food insecurity to take advantage of these opportunities to provide their children with free and nutritious meals over the summer so they can return to school ready to learn. I am grateful for our partnership with the Rochester City School District and Foodlink to make sure our children are properly fed all year round.”
“When school is out, our responsibility to support students does not stop. Access to summer meals is essential to children’s well-being and ability to thrive,” said Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, Superintendent of the Rochester City School District. “We are proud to be part of the Summer Meals Partnership of Rochester, using a school-home-community approach to ensure no child goes hungry and every child returns to school ready to learn.”
To help increase healthy food access in Rochester, Foodlink also received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding through Monroe County to run its popular mobile meals initiative for another summer. This option abides by a different set of meal regulations. For example, the meals are available for kids and adults, and meals can be picked up and taken home, rather than consumed on site. Foodlink added an additional “Meal Mobile” to its fleet this summer, doubling the impact of this ice cream truck-style initiative that launched during the pandemic in 2020. The vehicles will circle select neighborhoods and provide free meals all summer long, with more information available at FoodlinkNY.org/FindFood.
“We are thrilled to add an additional vehicle to our fleet this summer to continue to meet the needs of our neighbors who might not live close to a Summer Meals site,” said Macie McGowan, Foodlink’s Director of Kitchen Programs. “With food insecurity on the rise locally, it is imperative that we ensure every child in Rochester has access to a healthy meal this summer.”
Last summer, the Summer Meals Partnership of Rochester distributed more than 250,000 meals, with an average daily participation rate of 4,000 children at peak points in the summer. Parents can call 2-1-1 or visit www.SummerMealsRoc.org to learn more about 2025 Summer Meals sites in their neighborhood.
"Kids need healthy, quality meals all year round to support their growing minds and bodies,” said Mike Bulger, Director of Whole Child Health Advocacy at Common Ground Health. “Research shows that kids who experience food insecurity are more likely to develop chronic disease, experience social and emotional problems, and fall behind academically. When school lets out, the Summer Meals Partnership of Rochester makes sure that every kid in Rochester can get a meal, totally free and with no paperwork. Common Ground Health is proud to be part of this effort to support kids and families."