YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo Launches Free Summer Meal Program for Local Youth
Kalamazoo, MI – June 23, 2025 – The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is proud to announce the launch of its new free meal program for local families this summer, through the State of Michigan's Rural Non-Congregate Meal Service program.
Beginning Wednesday, June 18, children under 18 years of age can receive a bundle of seven healthy breakfasts and lunches each week. These bundles ensure youth have nutritious meals throughout the week, helping to combat summer hunger. Legal guardians and parents are welcome to pick up meals for their children, even if the children are not present. Bundles are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Meal Distribution Information:
Y staff will be at the Kalamazoo Public Library, Oshtemo Branch on West Main St., every Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM through August 13.
Bobby Ludwig, VP of Youth Services and Grants, shares, "Securing this grant builds on our strong legacy of providing meals to our community. For us, Youth Development starts with meeting basic needs, and offering nutritious meals gives kids vital sustenance while bringing immense peace of mind to parents and guardians."
The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is no stranger to providing essential meals to the community. For the past five summers, the Y served as a Congregate Meal Site, offering free lunches to youth under 18 through the State of Michigan's Meet Up & Eat Up program in a social setting. This program is vital in preventing summer hunger, which can lead to summer learning loss, often called "summer slide," for children in low-income areas where 50 percent or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. For a listing of sites in the Kalamazoo Public School area that inlcudes breakfast and lunch times provided at the Maple Y click here.
Beyond summer food programs, the Y also demonstrated its commitment to feeding families during a critical time through the COVID lockdown, when local schools were closed and families lacked access to school meals. During this period, the Y pivoted from its traditional youth programs and health and fitness services to distribute over 137,340 meals to youth and families as part of its COVID Emergency outreach efforts.
#No Kid Hungry #kzooymca #youthdevelopment #freemealsforkids
