United Way Space Coast and The Children’s Hunger Project Expand
Summer Feed and Read to Reach More Kids Across Brevard

When school lets out for the summer, many local children lose access to reliable meals and essential learning resources. That’s why United Way Space Coast and The Children’s Hunger Project are once again launching Summer Feed and Read, a countywide initiative that ensures kids stay nourished and engaged all summer long.

Summer Feed and Read brings together a network of schools, churches, libraries, community centers, and parks to serve healthy meals and distribute free books to local children. In addition to weekday meals served on-site, children receive weekend meal packs to take home, to help fill the gap on Saturdays and Sundays. These meal packs are designed with a variety of snacks and meals that kids can prepare or easily consume without assistance. Each child also receives books tailored to their reading level, building a personal library that encourages learning at home.

“We’re on a mission to make sure every child in Brevard has the food and books they need to thrive during the summer months,” said Caron Partridge, president, United Way Space Coast. “Our program is all about keeping kids active and learning when school is out. Most of our summer meal sites offer fun, educational, and recreational activities to keep kids engaged while they enjoy a healthy meal.”

A season loss of reading skills known as the “summer slide” can leave students two to three months behind each year. For children in low-income communities, this adds up to a three-year learning gap by the time they reach fifth grade. Summer Feed and Read helps close that gap by providing consistent access to educational tools alongside nutritious food.

This summer, the program expects to distribute around 10,000 weekend meal packs and 9,000 books to children across more than 20 sites. This year, the program is growing to include eight new locations, expanding its reach and increasing its impact. Newly added sites include Greater Allen Chapel AME, multiple public libraries across Palm Bay, Mims, Titusville, and Micco, Powell Subdivision Neighborhood Watch, and a new Brevard County Parks & Recreation location on North US Highway 1 in Cocoa.

While some locations are open to pre-registered students only, there are open locations in Palm Bay, Mims, Titusville, Cocoa, Micco, Melbourne, Rockledge, and at several Brevard County Parks & Rec sites throughout the county.

This effort is powered by the generosity of United Way Space Coast donors, whose support helps fight childhood hunger and summer learning loss across our community.