Free meals for young people
DCYF’s Nutrition Program provides free meals after school and in the summer for anyone age 18 or younger.Apply for the 2026 summer and 2026–2027 after-school meals program
Read the 2026-2027 DCYF Nutrition Handbook
If you want to serve meals in the 2026 summer or 2026–2027 after-school program, read the handbook before you apply.
Read the 2026-2027 DCYF Nutrition Handbook for Summer and Afterschool Meals Programs
Apply to be an Afterschool Meal Program site
The 2026–2027 Afterschool Meal Program runs from September 1, 2026 to June 2, 2027.
Applications to serve meals are open now. Apply by March 13, 2026.
Fill out the 2026 to 2027 Afterschool Meal Program application.
Apply to be a Summer Meal Program site
The 2026 Summer Meal Program runs for 10 weeks from June 8 to August 14, 2026.
Applications to serve meals are open now. Apply by March 13, 2026.
Other nutrition information
Find a 2025-2026 Afterschool Meal Program Site
Find an afterschool meal program site. These sites serve free afterschool meals for the 2025 to 2026 school year.
CA Meals for Kids Mobile App
The CA Meals for Kids mobile application can help you find meal sites, service times, dates, and locations.
Nondiscrimination statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- Email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Contact information
Nutrition Program
nutrition@dcyf.org