Access to quality, nutritious meals has a significant impact on student health, behavior, and academic success. We work with schools and community organizations to help students access the food they need to succeed — in school, after school, and over the summer.
School Meals
Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA)
Free for all public school students
In 2022, Colorado voters passed Proposition FF to establish Healthy School Meals for All — guaranteeing free breakfast and lunch for every student in a Colorado public school, regardless of income. After additional advocacy secured long-term funding through Propositions LL and MM in 2025, the program is now fully funded to deliver on its full promise to students.
Full components of HSMA include:
Free meals, no application needed
Every student at a Colorado public school can eat breakfast and lunch at no cost. No forms, no eligibility check, no stigma.
Fresh, local ingredients
Schools receive support to purchase ingredients from Colorado farmers and ranchers, bringing fresher food to school cafeterias.
From-scratch cooking
Schools receive technical assistance and training to move away from processed foods and prepare more meals from scratch.
Better pay for nutrition workers
Funding supports higher wages for the frontline professionals who prepare and serve meals to students every day.
Students and parents are helping shape what this program looks like in their schools. Through Student and Parent Advisory Committees (SPACs), families can give feedback on menus, advocate for culturally relevant meals, and work alongside school nutrition staff to make school food better.
Summer Meals
Summer EBT / SUN Bucks
Benefits issued beginning May 2026
When school is out for the summer, free school meals aren’t available — and that gap can make it harder for families to put food on the table. Summer EBT (also called SUN Bucks) helps fill that gap by providing a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child to use toward groceries over the summer months.
Who is Eligible?
Most eligible children are enrolled automatically. Your child may qualify if they attend a school participating in the National School Breakfast or Lunch Program and receive SNAP, Colorado Works (TANF), or Medicaid — or if your household submitted an income form to their school. Children who are homeless, in foster care, or in the Migrant Education Program also qualify automatically. Children ages 6–17 who don’t attend an NSLP school but meet income guidelines may also be eligible. Benefits expire 122 days (about 4 months) after they are issued. Questions? Call 1-888-328-2656 or email cdhs_sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us.
Summer Meal Sites
Free · No application required · Ages 18 and under
The Summer Food Service Program, funded by the USDA, provides free meals to children and teens during the summer months when school is out. Any child or teen 18 and under can eat — no application, no proof of income, no questions asked. Meals are served at schools, community centers, parks, and other sites across Colorado, and many locations also offer activities for kids.
In rural areas, some meals may be available to take home.
Use Kids Food Finder to locate free summer meal sites and food resources near you. The map is updated regularly and covers sites across Colorado. Don’t see your school or a site near you? Call your school or school district directly to ask about meal distribution locations and schedules.
Outside Colorado?
Call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273), Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm ET. You can also text “Food” or “SFSP” to 914-342-7744 (automated, available 24/7).