As summer break begins, Indianapolis Public Schools is once again offering free meals to children across Indianapolis through its 2026 Summer Meal Service Program.
Beginning June 1, any child age 18 or younger can receive free meals at participating IPS school sites and mobile meal locations throughout the city. Children do not need to be enrolled in IPS to participate.
District officials said the program is intended to help families continue accessing nutritious meals while school is out for the summer. The annual initiative serves thousands of children each year and helps address food insecurity during a time when many students no longer have access to school breakfast and lunch programs.
IPS noted that meals will not be served on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth or on July 3 ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend.
The district encourages families to check meal schedules before visiting locations, as serving times may vary depending on the site.
According to IPS, the program schedule includes:
- Free meals beginning June 1
- Open to all children age 18 and younger
- No IPS enrollment required
- Meals available at school and mobile locations throughout Indianapolis
- No meal service on June 19 or July 3
The summer meal initiative comes as food assistance programs remain especially important for families facing higher grocery costs during the summer months. Community advocates and school districts have continued emphasizing the importance of accessible meal programs to help children stay healthy and nourished while school is not in session.
IPS officials said families can find a full list of participating locations, dates and meal distribution times through the district’s online summer meal service page at myips.org/blog/district/2026-ips-summer-meal-service/.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
