Summer Food Service Program - Colorado

Food Assistance · Colorado · Free

Free summer meals for children 18 and under at designated sites across Colorado when school is not in session, including libraries, parks, and community centers. Serves all children regardless of income at participating sites with no application required. Use the Colorado Department of Education website to find a summer site by ZIP code; no photo ID, paperwork, or enrollment is typically required for a child to receive a summer meal.

Contact & Details

Address: Sites across Colorado

Hours: Summer months

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About Food Assistance for Fathers

Food assistance programs for US fathers and families include SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps), WIC (Women, Infants, and Children — which serves custodial fathers of children under 5), the National School Lunch Program, food banks through the Feeding America network, and Meals on Wheels. SNAP is administered state-by-state; eligibility is generally based on household income below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. Food banks operate in every state and are the fastest way to access food without an application — most require no ID or income verification for initial visits. TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) supplies food banks with USDA commodities. Summer Food Service Programs feed children during school breaks. This directory includes each state's SNAP office, regional food bank networks, and WIC clinics.

Food Assistance in Colorado

Colorado uses 'allocation of parental responsibilities' instead of 'custody' and handles cases in district courts. The Child Support Services division runs enforcement statewide. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Fort Collins anchor the major metros. Colorado Legal Services (the statewide LSC program), Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, and numerous county self-help centers support fathers statewide.

More Food Assistance in Colorado

  • Colorado SNAP — Colorado's food assistance program, formerly food stamps, helping eligible low-income residents buy groceries with benefits loaded onto the
  • Colorado WIC Program — Federally funded program providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and supplemental foods for pregnant women, new mothers, infan
  • Care and Share Food Bank (Colorado Springs) — Serves southern Colorado through more than 350 partner agencies distributing food to families across 31 counties from its Colorado Springs d
  • Food Bank of the Rockies - Western Slope — Serves western Colorado through partner agencies providing food distribution across mountain and rural communities from a Grand Junction war
  • Colorado 2-1-1 - Food Assistance — Free statewide helpline connecting Coloradans to food pantries, SNAP enrollment help, emergency food, and senior meal programs 24 hours a da
  • Feeding America - CO Food Banks — National hunger relief network that anchors Colorado's regional food banks and offers a zip code locator to find the nearest partner pantry

Food Assistance — Common Questions

How do I apply for SNAP?
Apply through your state's Department of Human Services — online, in person, or by phone. Approval for basic cases can happen in 30 days; expedited SNAP is available within 7 days for households in severe need. Bring ID, proof of income, rent/mortgage, and utilities.
Can I use a food bank without applying?
Yes. Most food banks and pantries don't require income verification, ID, or applications for initial visits. Feeding America's online locator (feedingamerica.org) finds nearby pantries by ZIP code. Most pantries let you visit once or twice a month.
Are custodial fathers eligible for WIC?
Yes. WIC covers custodial parents (including fathers and grandparents) of children under 5, and breastfeeding or postpartum mothers. It's commonly assumed to be mother-only — it isn't. Apply at your local WIC clinic. Income limit is 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.
What is summer food service?
USDA's Summer Food Service Program feeds children 18 and under during school breaks. No application required — kids just show up at a participating site (schools, parks, libraries). Text FOOD to 304-304 to find a nearby site, or call 211.