Meet Up and Eat Up programs begin in St. Clair County

Q & A with MDE public and governmental affairs spokesman

By Barb Pert Templeton

The Summer Food Service Program, Meet Up and Eat Up, that provides free, nutritious meals to children, has started its summer of 2025 program in St. Clair County.

Teens and children can receive free meals, including breakfast and lunch, at specific sites around the county in a program that’s administered by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).

“Michigan children and their families shouldn’t have to worry about going hungry over summer break,” said Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel in a recent press release. “Summer break is a time when many children lose access to the reliable meals they receive at school, placing them at risk of hunger and malnutrition.”

The Summer Food Service Program is a federal program. Congress approves funding that is authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture USDA, then MDE administers the program on behalf of USDA.

In a recent press release from the MDE, it states that while funding for the summer meal programs is still in place, federal dollars for universally free school meals for public school students during the school year are in jeopardy due to proposed federal cuts to food assistance benefits and Medicaid.

“To grow, learn, and be healthy, Michigan children need nutritious food—not just from school meals during the school year, but also during their summer vacations,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice in the press release.

To find out more about the Meet Up and Eat Up Program in Michigan Blue Water Healthy Living posed some questions about the summer meals program to Ken Coleman, the Michigan Department of Education Office of Public and Governmental Affairs Spokesman

Blue Water Healthy Living: How long has the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) been offering the Meet Up and Eat Up program in St. Clair County?

Ken Coleman, the Michigan Department of Education Office of Public and Governmental Affairs Spokesman: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program, otherwise known in Michigan as” Meet Up and Eat Up” or nationally as “SUN Meals To-Go”, has been in existence in Michigan for decades including sites in St. Clair County.

BWHL: Can you share some statistics regarding how many meals the program provides each summer?

Coleman: During the summer of 2024, 7 million meals were served from more than 1,400 sites in Michigan. Last year, in St. Clair County 32,256 meals were served to children during the summer.

BWHL: What’s the criteria for receiving the free meals – Residency? Income level?

Coleman: There are no requirements of residency or income level for a child, 18 and younger, to receive a meal at a participating site. Sites operate in low-income areas that have already been determined to be eligible based on approved USDA census data, community statistics, or at least 50% of students in the area are eligible for free/reduced price meals.

BWHL: What’s an example of a basic breakfast and lunch from the program?

Coleman: Menus are specific to each sponsoring organization. This can depend on if they prepare the food onsite, if the food needs to be transported to the site, if the site is outside, etc.

BWHL: What’s included with each meal?  A drink – dessert – items to take home?

Coleman: A breakfast at a minimum contains: 8 ounces of fluid milk, 1 serving of grains, and at least ½ cup of fruits or vegetables. A lunch or supper at a minimum contains: 8 ounces of fluid milk, 1 serving of grains, 2 ounces of meat/meat alternates, and ¾ cup fruits or vegetables. A snack must contain at least two of the four: 8 ounces of fluid milk, ¾ cup of fruits or vegetables, 1 serving of grains, or 1 oz of meat/meat alternates.

BWHL: Does the program include dine-in only or is there a carryout option?

Coleman: There are two types of Summer Food Service Program sites. Meet Up and Eat Up sites are congregate sites where children eat the meal at the site. Typically, there is some type of programming at the site to engage and draw in children. SUN Meals to Go are meals that are not eaten on-site (non-congregate). You may see this where the parent picks up a meal pack at a distribution site, a site sends a breakfast home for the next day at the end of the lunch congregate service, or in some cases sponsors deliver meals to the children’s home.

BWHL: Is there an option at any of the sites that allows a child to take a second lunch home with them to call dinner?

Coleman: There is not an option for a child to take a second lunch home for dinner. However, some sites with prior approval in rural areas offer meals to go. In many cases, sponsors distribute multiple days’ worth of meals. It depends on what is allowable and what the site has been approved for. If the site is offering a congregate lunch, they could provide a snack or breakfast (for the next morning) for the child to take home. Per program requirements, lunch and supper may not be provided on the same day.

BWHL: Can a parent who accompanies a child but is over the age of 18 eat at the sites, too?

Coleman: Some sites allow adults to purchase meals to eat with their children. Not all sites have the capacity or cash on hand for adults to purchase meals.

BWHL: Where does the funding come from to make this program possible?

Coleman: The Summer Food Service Program is administered by MDE through funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is available to children 18 and under regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, including gender identity, and sexual orientation, age, or disability. For more information on the Summer Food Service Program, visit www.michigan.gov/sfsp.