Non-Congregate Summer Meals

New legislation opens the door to connecting more rural children with the food they need to learn and grow. 

Successful Models & Implementation Guides

Learn more about successful models for rural non-congregate summer meals and hear some success stories from summer 2023-2024 in the resources below: 

Building Rural Partnerships

The contrast between large, urban-based organizations and smaller, rural schools and nonprofits can be significant. While their landscapes may differ, the common thread that unites schools and nonprofit organizations in both environments is the shared goal of ending childhood hunger. Establishing authentic connections between rural and urban organizations not only enriches their individual missions but also contributes to a more inclusive and collaborative nonprofit ecosystem. This resource will highlight practical strategies for building meaningful relationships that transcend the urban-rural divide, fostering a spirit of cooperation and mutual support. 

Drive Thru/ Curbside Pick-up

In drive-thru or curbside pick-up models, the majority of families arrive by car to receive meals. Families drive up to the pick-up spot, and the meals are loaded into their cars outside. This model is best for meal programs planning to distribute multiple meals at one time. It also is ideal for communities with one or multiple easily accessible, central locations where meal distribution can take place. Multi-day meal packs result in a larger quantity of food leading to heavy boxes or bags, and a drive-thru or curbside model accommodates the large quantity of food. 

Things to consider:

  • Caregivers or families may stay in their vehicles while receiving meals. Some families may prefer this to remain more anonymous. 
  • Establish a distribution point that allows for a line of waiting vehicles without backing up onto the street. 
  • Think about weather conditions. Consider purchasing a tent and other inclement weather gear for your staff.
  • Sites should use clear signage - in multiple languages, as applicable - to advertise the availability of free summer meals. 
  • Offer a separate line for families that walked to the site or used public transportation. Consider offering smaller bundles of meals or loaning grocery carts for the summer. 
a child smiles out the window while a volunteer loads a box of meals into her family's car
Walk-Up Distribution

In this model, meals are available for pick-up at one of multiple central locations. Locations can be indoor or outdoor. Individual meals or multi-day meal packs are provided to children or caregivers, on behalf of their children, with this grab and go model. Walk-up distributions are ideal for communities with easily accessible central locations by public transportation, care, or walking. It is also ideal when fewer meals are provided at one time to accommodate those walking or taking public transportation. 

Things to consider:

  • If offering multi-day meal packs, consider offering smaller bundles or lending grocery carts to families walking or using public transportation. 
  • Remember to think about weather conditions. Consider purchasing a tent and other inclement weather gear for your staff. Or, provide your meal service indoors. 
  • If sites are indoors, be sure to clearly identify where people should go to receive the meals. Outdoor sites should also use clear signage to advertise the availability of free summer meals. 
A mom and her three kids pick up bagged lunches from their local school
Mobile Route

In mobile, non-congregate models, sponsors use a vehicle to travel to multiple site locations. Similar to congregate mobile models, non-congregate mobile routes are ideal in areas where families face transportation difficulties and in rural communities. Sponsors utilizing non-congregate mobile routes may be able to add more site locations to routes because vehicles do not need to wait for meals to be consumed. 

Things to consider:

  • This model works well for individual meals and multi-day meal packs.
  • For schools, consider utilizing a known schedule for bus routes to identify stop locations and optimal routes.
  • Select accessible locations near where families live, like parks, housing communities and apartment complexes. 
  • Apps and websites like Here Comes the Bus and Where's the Bus can be used by families to track where the bus or vehicle is along the meal service route. This prevents families from missing meal distributions if the vehicle is running early or late. 
Child picks up their meal box from a bus as part of their mobile meal program
Direct Home Delivery

Direct home delivery works best as multi-day meal distributions. This saves sponsors the time and resources necessary for individual deliveries to families' homes.

Things to consider:  

  • Mail, delivery service, or hand delivery is allowed in this model. 
  • Home delivery requires signed consent from the parent or caregiver. 
  • Sponsors eligible for operating home delivery are school food authorities (SFAs) and community-based sponsors. 
    • Community-based sponsors must establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an SFA in order to use the school's student data to identify and invite eligible students to home delivery. 
  • Sponsors must confirm the household's current contract information and identify the correct number of children in each household. 
  • All students within an area eligibility service area are eligible to receive home-delivered meals and may be invited to participate. If the service area includes non-area eligible locations, then the students must be determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meals in order to receive home delivered summer meals. 
  • With approval, meals for multiple days may be delivered at one time once the number of eligible children in the house has been verified and daily maximums are kept (i.e., no more than one breakfast and one lunch per child per day). 
A volunteer brings meals to a family's house and a young boy helps carry them meals inside
Success Stories

No Kid Hungry is gathering stories from across the country. Read about how these organizations made non-congregate summer meals a success in their communities.