Rural Alaska
Meals To You
Meals to You helps fill that gap by delivering free, home-delivered meal boxes directly to eligible families in participating school districts across Alaska. This program ensures that kids continue to receive the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
How the Program Works
Meals to You Alaska weekly meal boxes during the summer months for children who receive free or reduced-price school meals during the academic year. These boxes include nutritious, shelf-stable foods designed to support a child’s health and well-being when school meals aren’t available.
We are committed to expanding this program to reach more families in Alaska’s rural communities, ensuring that every child has the food they need—even when school is out.
How to Apply
The application period is April 1–30, 2025. Families in participating school districts will receive a QR code from their school, leading to the online application. Only one application per household is needed.
What to Do Next
- Check back in April for application details.
- Stay in touch with your school to see if your district is participating.
- Explore additional food resources in your community if you need support now.
For more information, reach out to your child’s school or visit Food Bank of Alaska's Food Assistance Resources.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"It has been a great help to our children's healthy growth through the summer. Taikuu!"
Anonymous
Selawik, Alaska
"Where we live in rural Alaska is only accessible by boat or plane and we do not have a store. The boxes ensured our granddaughter had breakfast and lunch if we were low on some grocery items. It also helped our food budget."
Anonymous
Nunapitchuk, Alaska
YOU MAY NEED TO KNOW
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the program?
The first shipments of 5-day meal boxes will be delivered in the first week of June and continue until the last full week before school goes back into fall semester.
Do I have to pay for it?
No, this program is a federal United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) administered by Food Bank of Alaska in collaboration with the Department of Early Education and Development (DEED). All Meals to You participants will receive these meals at no direct cost to them.
Who can I contact if I have any questions?
For quicker assistance, please email us at MTY@foodbankofalaska.org. Due to high call volumes, email is the most efficient way to reach us. If you prefer to call, our phone number is 907-308-7601.
Does Meals to You replace Summer Food Service Program?
No, Meals To You will operate within the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Meals to You expands access to SFSP to communities that have historically lacked access to SFSP.
For those communities with SFSP programs children who receive meal boxes can still attend SFSP programs but can only receive two meals from the SFSP program since they are already receiving food via Meals to You.
What communities will be served?
During the summer of 2025 the Food Bank of Alaska’s goal is to reach 39 different school districts:
- Alaska Gateway School District
- Annette Island School District
- Bering Strait School District
- Bristol Bay Borough School District
- Chatham School District
- Copper River School District
- Cordova City School District
- Craig City School District
- Delta-Greely School District
- Dillingham City School District
- Galena City School District
- Haines Borough School District
- Hoonah City School District
- Hydaburg City School District
- Juneau School District
- Kake City School District
- Kashunamiut School District
- Ketchikan Gateway School District
- Klawock City School District
- Kodiak Island Borough School District
- Kuspuk School District
- Lake and Penn School District
- Lower Kuskokwim School District
- Lower Yukon School District
- Mt. Edgecumbe School District
- Nenana City School District
- Nome Public Schools
- North Slope School District
- Northwest Arctic Borough School
- Petersburg Borough School District
- Saint Mary’s School District
- Sitka School District
- Southeast Island School District
- Southwest Region School District
- Unalaska City School District
- Valdez City School District
- Yukon Flats School District
- Yukon-Koyukuk School District
- Yupiit School District
Is my school district taking part in Meals to You?
Check with your child’s school to see if your district is participating in Meals to You for the 2025 summer season, or refer to the list in the question above for participating locations.
Can I still get a meal box if my household receives SNAP benefits?
Yes! You can still sign up to get meal boxes during the summer program if you are receiving SNAP or any other form of assistance. Plus, signing up for Meal to You will not affect your eligibility for other assistance programs.
Who will ship the meal boxes?
The United States Postal Service (UPS) will ship the meal boxes.
When will Meals to You ship the first meal box?
Boxes will be shipped out with the intent of the meal boxes arriving on the first Monday in June. Shipping to different regions of the state will experience different timelines and Food Bank of Alaska has built in two weeks to account for any possible delays.
How many weeks will Meals to You ship meal boxes?
Meals to You aims to ship weekly meal boxes to households while the participants school is out of session for summer break which depending on the year could be 12-13 weeks.
How do I enroll my child?
The application period is April 1-30, 2025. Food Bank of Alaska has a QR code they will share with the districts participating that will lead to an application for families to fill out.
Please fill out ONE application per household.
Does every single child need to be enrolled in school?
No, just one child in the family needs to be enrolled in the school. Younger siblings that are not enrolled in school yet can still receive boxes if approved by the school district.
How old does my child need to be to be a part of the Meals to You?
The Summer Food Service Program provides meals to all eligible children 18 and under. School districts determine eligibility. At least one child per household needs to be enrolled in a participating school to qualify the entire household.
Do I need to reapply every week?
No, once the application is filled out in April that is the only application that needs to be filled out.