Cuts to federal food assistance programs, alongside the uncertainty many local immigrant families are feeling regarding food access, have made summer meal distribution even more important than usual for local school districts.

Food service managers for Lehigh Valley school districts say they are working to ensure youth are fed amid reports that families are losing their eligibility for federal programs and the reality that schools being out of session for the summer means additional challenges to securing and distributing meals.

The federal budget reconciliation bill Congress passed in July 2025 included cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The full impact of those federal cuts is still being calculated, but the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, using enrollment data through July 2025, estimated that 3,353 individuals in Lehigh County and 1,856 individuals in Northampton County would lose benefits.

The department reports that about 1 in 6 Pennsylvanians use SNAP, with 35% percent of SNAP recipients in the state being under the age of 18. As of May, the department reported 54,388 individuals enrolled in SNAP in Lehigh County and 32,026 in Northampton County.

“A lot of our direct certification numbers, they decreased significantly,” Bethlehem Area School District Supervisor of Dining Services Ashley Kelly said, referencing the eligibility guidelines that make recipients of certain federal assistance programs, like SNAP, automatically eligible for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program.

How many students qualify to have their meals fully reimbursed by the federal government makes a big difference to the food service budgets of local school districts. During the school year, the largest federal program is the National School Lunch Program. Known colloquially as “free and reduced lunch,” it is the best known of the U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that reimburse school districts for meals.

The USDA also regulates how SNAP funds flow down to states. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services manages those funds. A separate state program provides free breakfast for students.

In the summer, districts apply to a separate USDA program, the Summer Food Service Program, for reimbursement for the breakfast and lunch meals they distribute.

Managing all that paperwork, and making sure eligible families apply for federal food assistance, is how local school districts ensure they can serve food without straining their budgets. As daily cafeteria meals turn into summer pickup sites, districts also partner with summer camps, daycares and other community programs to reach as many children as possible.

Here’s a look at how some Lehigh Valley school districts are handling the challenge.

Bethlehem Area expands community reach

The “soft launch” of Bethlehem Area School District’s summer food program involved packing 400 meals, but the district quickly ramped up to 2,000 a day.

Efforts to increase meal distribution are wasted if students decide they don’t want to eat the food, so a lot of effort goes into tracking which meals are eaten and which are returned.

“Craveables” are a reliable winner. While they’re a little more effort for staff to put together than some of the other menu options, the make-your-own kits that allow children to assemble foods like pizza are popular.

“When it comes to kids — I have kids, so I kind of think on the same level: What would they like to eat?” Executive Chef John Hynes said.

Last summer the district served more than 56,000 breakfasts, lunches and snacks through its summer meal program. This year’s distribution started June 10 and runs through Aug. 21.

This summer, the district is operating nine open sites, where any community member under the age of 18 can pick up a meal, and 30 closed sites, where registered students who are participating in programs such as summer camps or daycare are provided with meals.

Detailed information on pickup sites and hours can be found on the district’s website.

Allentown School District works alongside partners to distribute food

Allentown School District served 33,055 breakfast meals, 46,543 lunch meals and 5,303 snacks last summer. This year it is providing meals for students 18 and under.

Distribution started June 22 and runs through Aug. 6, Monday through Thursday. South Mountain and Trexler Middle Schools distribution sites are serving breakfast 7:30-8 a.m. and lunch 11-11:45 a.m.

The district is also providing meals for all of the Allentown School District summer programs, all Allentown Parks and Recreation programs, and multiple outside organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, The Neighborhood Center and Casa Guadalupe, according to Director of Child Nutrition Services Gina Giarratana.

“Breakfast meals may include cereal or cereal bar, graham crackers, fruit juice, and milk. Lunch meals may include fresh made sandwiches or equivalent entrée, fresh vegetable & dip, fresh fruit, fruit juice, and milk,” Giarratana said in an email, adding that federal regulations require all meals to be consumed on site.

A City of Allentown summer meals flyer went out to all district families, informing them of their options for receiving food, Giarratana said.

Besides the two school sites listed above, other distribution sites for the city include St. Luke’s at Star Community Health at 450 W Chew St.; Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th St. School of Nursing at 1628 W. Chew St.; Allentown Public Library at 1210 Hamilton St.; The Caring Place at 931 W. Hamilton St.; Mack Pool at 1901 Mack Blvd.; and Casa Guadalupe at 218 N. Second St.

See the flyer below for details of distribution dates and times:

Parkland ramps up summer meal access

Parkland School District is in its second year of its summer meal program. Last summer, the district served more than 16,250 meals, supporting an average of about 200 families per week, Director of Food Services Casey Troutman said in an email, adding that she aims to expand distribution this year.

A meal package containing five breakfasts and five lunches can be picked up once per week, on Mondays, starting June 22 and ending Aug. 17. (Next week, the pickup will occur Tuesday due to the July 4 holiday.) Meals can be picked up from the high school campus 7-8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Last summer, only 12% of eligible children in Pennsylvania were reached by summer feeding sites, so we are incredibly glad to qualify for this program in hopes of reaching more children in our community,” Troutman said.

Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year qualify for free summer meals that are fully reimbursable for the district, Troutman said. For families that don’t qualify for free and reduced-price meals, Parkland is offering an option to buy the weekly 10-meal package for $35.

Immigrant families who are feeling insecure about food access and those facing the loss of federal food benefits due to SNAP cuts are on the district’s radar, Troutman said, although there aren’t specific initiatives targeted toward those demographics.

“We strongly encourage any family facing a loss of benefits to apply for the free and reduced meal program to see if they meet the income thresholds. We want to assure all Parkland families that the application and registration process is completely confidential, and that confidentiality is strictly maintained throughout the weekly meal pick-up process,” Troutman said. “Our focus is simply on bridging the summer food gap for any local family facing increasing challenges.”

More details and a sign-up link can be found on the district’s website. Questions can be directed to the Food Services office at 610-351-5670.