Aramark Student Nutrition Summer Meal Programs Help Bridge the Gap When School is Out

As students begin returning to classrooms across the country, Aramark Student Nutrition is reflecting on a summer of community impact. Across 150 partner school districts, teams distributed more than 3 million meals through summer feeding initiatives designed to help children and families stay nourished while school was out of session.

For many children, school meals are a reliable source of daily nutrition during the academic year. When schools close for summer break, that access often disappears. Through federally supported summer feeding programs and partnerships with local school districts, Aramark Student Nutrition helps ensure children and families can continue accessing nutritious meals at no cost throughout the summer months.

Summer meal programs do more than provide food. They can help families stretch household budgets, connect communities with local resources, and create opportunities for children to receive nutritious meals in safe, welcoming environments. This summer, teams in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Mattoon, Illinois, demonstrated how local partnerships, community engagement, and operational excellence can help expand access to these important resources.

Mattoon School District (Illinois)

When Aramark Student Nutrition partnered with Mattoon School District to launch a curbside summer meal pickup program in 2025, the objective was simple: make it easier for children and families to access nutritious meals during the summer months, when school meal programs are unavailable, and transportation or scheduling challenges can create additional barriers.

During the program's first year, Food Service Director Hollie Angell and her team worked through the complexities of building a new model from the ground up. In its inaugural week, the program distributed 325 seven-day meal packs, totaling 4,550 meals for local families.

From menu design and product procurement to meal packing, staffing, distribution, and curbside pickup logistics, the team used the first year as an opportunity to learn, refine processes, and identify ways to better serve families.

By year two, those efforts paid off.

"In our first year, there was a lot of trial and error as we learned how to make the program work best for families," said Aramark Student Nutrition General Manager Megan Nunn. "This year, we worked closely with the client to improve how meals are packed, add more fresh produce, and make sure each box is easy for students to use at home to better support families."

The program also expanded from serving students attending summer school in the district to serving anyone in the community in need of meals. With support from Aramark, district staff, board members, local residents, and student volunteers, the team coordinated meal packing and designated pickup times to better meet the community's needs.

The results were significant. In the first week of this summer alone, more than 1,300 seven-day meal packs were distributed, more than quadrupling the number of meals served during the program's first year. The growth demonstrates how strong partnerships, continuous improvement, and community engagement can help connect more families with nutritious meals when they need them most.

Pawtucket School Department (Rhode Island)

Earlier this summer, a Summer Meals Kickoff Celebration in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, brought together families, community organizations, and local supporters to raise awareness of the city's free summer meal program for children and teens. Through the program, children ages 18 and younger can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost at eight meal sites across the city, helping ensure access to nutritious food throughout the summer.

Led by the Aramark Student Nutrition team at Pawtucket School Department and supported by colleagues from across New England, the celebration provided information about meal sites while creating a welcoming atmosphere for families.

"Our goal was to make sure families were aware of the resources available to them and to create excitement around the program," said Michelle Edwards, Aramark Student Nutrition General Manager at Pawtucket School Department. "When communities come together around a common purpose, we can help make a meaningful difference for children and families."

Families participated in face painting, games, raffles, and other activities throughout the day, while students had the opportunity to meet Ace, Aramark Student Nutrition's mascot. Beyond the festivities, team members engaged directly with families to share information about summer meal locations, discuss the importance of child nutrition, and highlight employment opportunities within the district.

"The turnout was fantastic, the community response was overwhelmingly positive, and it was wonderful to see so many families enjoying the day while learning about the Summer Meals Program. Events like this truly demonstrate the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to serving the children of Pawtucket," said Mark Andrade, Ed.D., Chief Operating Officer, Pawtucket School Department.

As another school year begins, the impact of summer meal programs continues to be felt in communities Aramark Student Nutrition serves across the country. From raising awareness of available resources to expanding access through innovative distribution models, Aramark Student Nutrition teams helped ensure more children and families had access to nutritious meals during the summer months.