Free Summer Meals for Kids in San Antonio (2026): No Summer EBT in Texas — Here’s What Exists

If you heard Texas families would get a $120 grocery card for each child this past summer, here is the honest answer first: that card never came. Texas did not take part in Summer EBT — also called SUN Bucks — in 2026, so no Summer EBT money was issued to Texas families, no matter your income or whether you get SNAP.

What San Antonio kids did have this summer was something older and simpler: free meals, served in person, at schools, libraries, parks, and community centers all over the city. Those summer sites have closed for the year — the San Antonio Food Bank‘s program ran June 1 through August 8 — so this guide does three things: it explains what existed and why, it shows you exactly how to find a site when the program returns next June, and it points you to the food help that is open right now, this fall.

The Summer EBT truth: Texas sat out 2026

Summer EBT is a federal program that gives families in participating states $120 per eligible child to buy groceries during the summer, when school meals stop. States have to choose to run it. For 2026, 37 states plus Washington, D.C., tribal organizations, and territories signed on — and Texas was one of 13 states that did not, according to the Food Research & Action Center. Texas has not participated since the program began in 2024.

That means there is no application to file, no card to wait for, and no back payment coming for summer 2026. Anyone who tells you they can “release” your Texas SUN Bucks for a fee is running a scam. Your regular SNAP benefits, if you receive them, were never affected by this decision — they kept running as usual all summer.

What existed instead: free summer meals, no sign-up

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) runs the Summer Meal Programs in Texas, working with school districts, nonprofits, libraries, churches, and city recreation centers. In summer 2026 the pattern in San Antonio looked like this:

• Who could eat: any child 18 years old or younger — and enrolled students with disabilities up to age 21. There was no income test.
• What it cost: nothing. Meals were served at no cost.
• Paperwork: at standard open sites, children did not need to register or show an ID. As TDA’s message to schools put it, kids just show up and eat.
• Where: the San Antonio Food Bank alone partnered with more than 100 community centers, public libraries, schools, and other sites across Southwest Texas, serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks. San Antonio ISD served meals at its campuses from June 1 through July 31, and districts like Northside and North East ISD ran their own site lists.
• The catch: most meals had to be eaten at the site, and each site set its own days and hours — which is why checking the site finder before you go matters.

If your family missed this in 2026, you are not alone. The program is real every summer, but it is barely advertised, and it disappears the moment school starts again.

How to find a summer meal site next year

Sites usually open around June 1. When summer 2027 gets close, TDA offers three ways to find the sites near you — save these now so you are not searching in a panic next June:

1. Text FOODTX to 877-877 for information in English, or COMIDA to 877-877 for Spanish.
2. Visit SummerFood.org and use TDA’s interactive meal site map — enter your address or ZIP code and check each site’s dates and serving times.
3. Call 2-1-1 and ask a live operator, in English or Spanish, for summer meal sites near your ZIP code.

Hours, meals, and activities vary by site, and sites open and close during the summer, so check the map again before each trip rather than relying on a screenshot from June.

School is back: the food help open right now

Summer meals are gone until next June, but your kids are still eating every day. Here is what is actually open in San Antonio this fall:

• Free meals at school. San Antonio ISD has confirmed it will continue serving free breakfast and lunch to all of its students through the federal Community Eligibility Provision — every SAISD campus, every student, no application. If your child is in another district, ask the front office whether their campus is a CEP campus or whether you should file a free and reduced-price meal application. Filing is free, and approval also helps with other school fees.
• Groceries from the San Antonio Food Bank. The Food Bank runs food distributions and partner pantries year-round, not just in summer. Its seasonal produce markets are still running through October 31 — see our guide to the Food Bank’s free produce markets ending October 31 — and its Client Services team can point you to the distribution closest to you at 210-431-8326.
• Neighborhood pantries. Churches and nonprofits across the city stock food every week. Start with our list of free food pantries in San Antonio, and call before you go — stock and hours change fast.
• SNAP, if you have not applied. Summer meals never required SNAP, but SNAP is the biggest grocery help Texas offers during the school year. Check whether your household may qualify with our SNAP eligibility checker for Texas, and see the full picture in our roundup of 2026 food benefits and assistance programs.

Apply for Me — See Your Potential Matches

Not sure what you may qualify for? Our free Apply for Me check looks at your household and shows your potential matches across food, health, utility, and housing programs. It takes a few minutes, and we never submit government applications or complete paperwork on your behalf — we show you what may be out there and where to apply.

Frequently asked questions

Did Texas really skip Summer EBT in 2026?

Yes. Texas was one of 13 states that chose not to participate in Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) for 2026, so the $120-per-child grocery benefit was never issued here. There is nothing to apply for and no payment on the way for last summer.

Who could eat at a free summer meal site?

Any child 18 years old or younger, plus enrolled students with disabilities up to age 21. At standard open sites there was no registration, no ID, and no income check — a child did not need to be a student at that school or a SNAP household.

When do summer meal sites open again?

Sites typically open around June 1, after school lets out. Closer to summer, text FOODTX to 877-877, check SummerFood.org, or call 2-1-1 to find the sites, dates, and serving times near you.

My kids need food now, not next summer. Where do I start?

Call the San Antonio Food Bank’s Client Services team at 210-431-8326 for the nearest distribution, dial 2-1-1 for a live referral to pantries near your ZIP code, and make sure your child is signed up for free school meals if their campus offers them.

Helpful links & phone numbers

• SummerFood.org — TDA Summer Meal Site Finder — the official map of Texas summer meal sites. By text: FOODTX to 877-877 (English) or COMIDA to 877-877 (Spanish).
• San Antonio Food Bank — Summer Meals for Kids — its summer site list (the 2026 season ran June 1–August 8).
• San Antonio Food Bank — year-round food help. Client Services: 210-431-8326 for finding food and benefits assistance; main line: 210-337-3663. 5200 Historic Old Hwy 90, San Antonio, TX 78227.
• USDA — Meals for Kids (Summer Food Service Program) — the federal program behind summer meals. USDA National Hunger Hotline: 1-866-348-6479 (1-866-3-HUNGRY, English) or 1-877-842-6273 (Spanish), Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern.
• 211Texas.org — search local help online. By phone: dial 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905 — free, confidential, 24/7.
• YourTexasBenefits.com — apply for or manage SNAP and other Texas state benefits online.
• San Antonio ISD summer meal information line (during the summer season): 210-554-2290.