NYC Dishes Out Free Summer Meals For Kids In Prospect Park

PARK SLOPE, NY — This summer, food trucks are rolling into neighborhoods — including Prospect Park — to dish out free meals and make sure no kid goes hungry.

The campaign, spearheaded by No Kid Hungry and New York City Public Schools, kicked off in late June, returning after last year’s success. Organizers say the effort targets areas with historically low participation at the program’s physical meal sites.

The mobile food trucks will be open daily, offering free meals to anyone 18 or younger. On weekdays, meals are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends, according to the Prospect Park Alliance.

No sign-up, paperwork, or ID is needed, just stop by one of the three city locations and grab a free breakfast and lunch, NYC Public Schools officials said.

Here are the three operating locations:

• Manhattan: Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Chrystie St. & Forsyth Street, New York, NY 10002)
• Brooklyn: Prospect Park (Parkside & Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
• Bronx: Haffen Park (Ely Avenue & Hammersley Avenue, Bronx, NY 10469 — near the baseball field and basketball courts)

The menu features items such as a Hummus Grab & Go Salad, BBQ Crispy Chicken Wrap, Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad, and Classic Tuna Wrap. Halal meals, which comply with Islamic dietary laws, are also available to anyone at the designated sites.

To view the full July menu, click here.

This program arrives amid soaring food costs, with 53 percent of New Yorkers having taken on additional debt in the past 12 months as they struggle to feed their families, according to a recent poll commissioned by No Kid Hungry New York.

“The rising cost of groceries isn’t just straining household budgets—it’s pushing families deeper into debt,” said Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York.

The hunger crisis disproportionately affects families of color in New York, particularly Hispanic families. According to the poll, 73 percent of Hispanic households have taken on additional debt in the past 12 months to put food on the table, compared to 53 percent of New Yorkers overall.

“New Yorkers, regardless of region or political party, all agree on the solution: we need bipartisan support for common-sense programs like SNAP, universal school meals, and Summer EBT that help families put food on the table and give kids the healthy food they need to grow and thrive," Sabella added.

A Bronx mother spoke candidly about the financial strain caused by rising food prices. "Being on a budget the rise in food cost strains my pockets," she said. "There are times where I have to use my credit card just to make sure there’s enough food in the house for me and my son until my next paycheck."

The 2025 Free Summer Meals Program runs through Aug. 29, to find a meal site near you or learn more, visit the NYC's Public Schools website.