Free meals this summer for kids—find out how + where

A person's hand slides a yellow cafeteria tray holding a bowl of salad, fork and glass of tea along the serving rail, similar to the free meals program in Decatur City Schools — Several local school systems provide free meals to youths each summer. (Julia Filirovska / Pexels)

Children aged 18 and younger in the Huntsville area have access to free breakfast and lunch at local schools and a few other community sites this summer.

We have rounded up what we know about programs in each area below.

Read more below for details, and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get news like this delivered to your inbox.

Free meals for kids this summer in Huntsville

Exterior of the Academy for Academics & Arts building in Huntsville, Alabama — Academy for Academics & Arts is one of seven school sites in Huntsville serving free meals to kids in June. (AAA)

Huntsville City Schools Summer Food Service program runs:

📆 Mon.–Thurs., June 1-25, 2026
🍳 Breakfast: 7:40–8:30AM at school sites
🥙 Lunch: 10:30–11:30AM at school sites

School sites: Academy for Academics and Arts, Academy for Science and Foreign Language, Chaffee Elementary School, Lakewood Elementary, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Ridgecrest Elementary, Whitesburg Elementary
Community sites + hours
- Calvary Hill Community Center, 10:30–11AM
- Dr. Richard Showers Recreation Center, 11:30AM–12:30PM
- Brahan Spring Recreation Center, 1-1:45PM

All meals must be eaten on-site + the child must be physically present to receive a meal.

👉 Get more details at HuntsvilleCitySchools.org.

Free meals for kids this summer in Decatur + Morgan County

Glass facade of Decatur High School in Decatur, Alabama — Decatur High School is one of a dozen sites in Decatur serving free meals to youths through June. (Lisa Battles / Hville Blast)

Decatur City Schools Summer Meal program for kids age 18 and younger in Decatur and Morgan County runs:

📆 Mon.–Thurs., June 1-25, 2026
🍳 Breakfast: 7:40-8AM
🥙 Lunch: 11:30AM-Noon

School sites:

Junior High + High Schools: Austin Junior High School, Decatur High School
Elementary Schools: Austinville, Chestnut Grove, Frances Nungester, Leon Sheffield, Banks-Caddell, Oak Park, Walter Jackson, West Decatur, Benjamin Davis, Woodmeade

All meals must be eaten on-site + the child must be physically present to receive a meal.

👉 Get more details at dcs.edu.

Free meals for kids this summer in Athens + Limestone County

Exterior of Athens Elementary School in Athens, Alabama — Athens City Schools is providing free meals to kids at Athens Elementary School. (AES)

Athens City Schools 2026 Summer Meal Program serves kids age 18 and younger at Athens Elementary School and runs:

📆 Mon.–Thurs., June 1-18, 2026
🍳 Breakfast: 8:15-8:45AM
🥙 Lunch: 11AM-Noon

Program guidelines:

Show proof of residency in Athens or Limestone County
All meals must be eaten on-site + the child must be physically present to receive a meal
First-come, first-served

See menus and get more details at acs-k12.org.

Other programs + locations for free meals in Alabama + beyond

Check the USDA map here to find healthy meals FREE to anyone age 18 or younger in Alabama + throughout the country during the summer while school is out.

Also, many school-age students are eligible for the Alabama SUN Bucks program, which provides a one-time pre-loaded card for $120 in grocery benefits per child over the summer. Some children in qualifying households are automatically enrolled in the program, and you can check the Aabama SUN Bucks website linked above for eligibility details. For anyone who qualifies and needs to apply, the deadline this summer is Aug. 15, 2026.

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