There are a variety of ways to get free food for your family through community partners in the Lexington Area.

Scroll down for SUMMER MEALS 2026

God’s Pantry Food Bank – God’s Pantry Food Bank has 4 pantries in Fayette County open Monday – Friday. A referral is needed to visit St. Luke Pantry, Central Pantry, and Cambridge Pantry. Please call 859-259-2308 to schedule a referral.
*A God’s Pantry location is open inside the Northside Library. Open Monday – Friday from Noon – 2 pm. No referral needed. Families can shop for what they need for their families. First 40 families will be served, get registered on the daily list to shop starting at 9:30 am each day.
Glean Kentucky – Glean Kentucky is supporting the agencies who are staying open and starting to work with others to develop different delivery models for fresh produce. Click HERE for a map of food locations (some may be outdated so call ahead before you go). You can also apply to receive free produce HERE.
Lexington Rescue Mission – Free breakfast from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and hot, nutritious lunches from 12 to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast and lunch are free and open to anyone in need. All meals are served at our Outreach Center at 444 Glen Arvin Avenue.
Meal Hand Out at FoodChain will now be: Dinner (anyone) Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5:30-7pm. 501 W. Sixth St, Suite 105 (where Jefferson St. meets West Sixth St.)
Lexington Public Library Northside Branch and Marksbury Family Branch – Snacks Monday-Friday, 3-5 pm, Saturdays 3 – 4 pm
SNAP Benefits – The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income people buy food for healthy meals at participating stores. Kentucky SNAP benefits increase household food buying power when added to the household’s income. *Kentucky SNAP Requirements – Any household meeting basic income and other requirements may be able to receive SNAP benefits.
Black Soil – This local non-profit market offers $10 Grow it Forward certificates for shoppers. Vouchers are paid for by local donations. The market has two locations, 820 Lane Allen Rd. Suite 176 and 760 Florence Avenue Lexington, KY 40508. *Typically available in April – call to confirm vouchers are available when you plan to visit

These lists are updated frequently but are subject to change at any time. We do not guarantee that all are current at all times so please call ahead to confirm.

SNAP Benefits

SNAP supports kids with the food they need to learn and helps our school. SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to families to buy food at local stores and helps our school receive more funding. Learn if you are eligible for SNAP by visiting mrelief.com or texting Food or Comida to 74544. To apply, visit https://feedingky.org/snap/

Summer Meals for Students

Watch for 2026 Info

Summer EBT

Summer EBT

The Summer EBT program provides grocery benefits to families with school-aged children in our community. Last year, Summer EBT helped over 395,000 kids in Kentucky get the healthy food that they usually enjoy while they’re in school!

Summer EBT is for school-aged children in households that are at or under 185% of federal poverty guidelines.
Families receive $120 per eligible school-aged child for groceries (on an existing EBT card or new Summer EBT card)
Most eligible families will be automatically enrolled, but some will need to apply.
In CEP school(s), families who aren’t receiving SNAP, KTAP, income-based Medicaid or Kinship Care may need to apply. (This is new, not all CEP students will receive a card- the ones who are not directly certified from the above programs, will have to complete a S-EBT application with DCBS)
Families can check here if they need to apply, or if they should receive Summer EBT automatically: feedingky.org/sebteligibility

Families can learn more about Summer EBT in Kentucky at kysebt.ky.gov

*Non-CEP schools, if your student qualified directly (through the above DC programs), they would receive benefits automatically. If your household completed a Free/Reduced application for meal assistance, DCBS has requested that data from districts, so you should not need to complete the S-EBT application.

If you have any questions contact DCBS (S-EBT program distributers) at: (855)509-8959.

Beneficios de EBT del Verano

$120 de beneficio para cada estudiante

Pueden solicitarlo las familias con niños en edad escolar que cumplan con los requisitos de ingresos.

Los niños de 6-18 años antes de la fecha 1 de agoto, 2025 que reciben beneficios de SNAP, KTAP, o “Kinship Care” durante el año escolar 25-26 estarán inscritos automaticamente en el programa y no necesitan que aplicar.

Kentucky Double Dollars Program

Accepted at the Lexington Farmer’s Market, FoodChain, and Good Foods Coop.

Summer Meals 2026

Summer Meals at Food Chain

The SUN MEALS program helps ensure children and teens have the nutrition they need during the months school is not in session. Free summer meals, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), are available to children and teens ages 18 and under at thousands of summer meal sites across the state. At open or drop-in sites, families do not need to apply to the program or show proof of income to participate.

Meals are served at safe places, such as schools, churches, parks, and community centers. Many supervised sites offer fun learning and recreational activities as well as free meals.

Where to find Summer Meals made by FoodChain:

330 Newtown Apartments: Mon-Fri Breakfast 9:30am-11am; Lunch 12:30pm-2pm

Castlewood Community Center: M -Fri Snack 4pm

Dunbar Community Center: M – Fri Snack 2pm-3pm

Gleneagles Apartments: M – Fri Breakfast 8:30am; Lunch 12:30pm

Kenwick Community Center: M – Fri 2pm-3pm

Coolavin Park Shelter: M – Fri, Lunch 11:30AM – 1:30PM