A Look at the Summer Food Service Program’s Impact for Summer 2025

When summer arrives, many kids look forward to fun in the sun and time off from school. However, for some families, the end of the school year means losing access to the consistent meals their children rely on. Our Summer Food Program is here to help. We provide nutritious meals to kids for the week so they have the fuel they need for a healthy, active summer.

The Summer Food Program, federally funded by the USDA, provides free, nutritious meals to children and teens. Generally, the program serves individuals up to 18 years of age. However, people over 18 with a disability may also be eligible. This summer, our program provided weekly meal boxes, each containing five breakfasts and five lunches, completely free of charge. We were proud to distribute these nutritious meals at the following community locations:

• Cloudland Elementary
• Watauga City Hall
• Unicoi Elementary
• Crossroads Church

No application or registration was needed, as the program operates on a basis of trust to ensure all children receive the meals they need.

According to Nutrition Director Beverly Culp, the program is vital for low-income families. "We want children to be fed and not go hungry," she says. "We don't always know what's happening at home, and this service makes sure they have the nutrients they need." The high demand for meal boxes, with many kids consistently returning, was a powerful indicator for Beverly that the children were truly hungry and in need of the food.

This summer, our program successfully distributed 8,610 meals across three counties. Spreading the word about our service is crucial to help us continue feeding more children in the future. If you want more information, contact Beverly Culp at 423-461-7844 or at bculp@fthra.org.

Benefiting children and their families.