Providing free meals to children all summer long is a team effort, and the annual Wake County Summer Food Service Program wants more organizations to join the cause. To start the season off strong, the program is hosting an immersive Summer Food kick-off event to support new and existing sponsors and sites.

The kick-off will be held Thursday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at the Wake County Commons, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh.

“We’re calling on current and future Summer Food distribution partners to come together to prepare for another successful season,” said Shinica Thomas, Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “By collaborating, we can expand access to healthy and nutritious meals this summer and ensure that no child in our community goes hungry.”

This is not a Summer Food event to feed children but rather an event to help equip partners and sites with the resources and information they need to successfully distribute food this summer.

The event is open to all current and future Summer Food sponsors, sites and volunteers, as well as those interested in learning more about the program. The purpose of the event is for them to experience a mock Summer Food site, collect essential information, gather resources, and express any questions or concerns they may have.

Attendees can congregate with other Summer Food supporters, talk to representatives from other programs such as 4-H, participate in exciting activities and sample the food that is served at Summer Food sites.

Summer Food is a USDA-funded meal program available to children ages 0–18 at no cost. In 2023, 20 open enrollment Summer Food sites around the county were supported and assisted by Wake County Cooperative Extension. They served more than 170,000 meals.

Interested attendees can sign up to attend.