VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — As school ends, another program is starting. 

Summer BreakSpot is partnering with hundreds of organizations across Central Florida to provide free meals for kids during summer break.

Summer BreakSpot is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its goal is to fill the summer food gap and reduce child hunger. It works by partnering with local organizations to provide free breakfast and lunch for all kids under 18. The program is available across the state and in every Central Florida county.

In Volusia County, the program started on Monday and will run until Aug. 9. The Daytona Beach Regional Library is one of 63 locations in the county that’s participating in the program. 

For Volusia County parent Carmen Crenshaw, the library is one of her family’s favorite places to go.

“It gives us a nice, cool place to hang out,” the mom of four said. “The kids love associating with other kids, getting something to eat and a place to play.”

Crenshaw and her kids have been coming to the library for years. It’s one of dozens of locations across the county that is participating in Summer BreakSpot and providing nutritious meals to kids while school is out. 

“I don’t think the kids understand how important it is for good nutrition,” Crenshaw said. “It’s nice as a parent to be able to have a place to go that provides everything. The kids love it because it gives them a variety.”

As summer starts in Volusia County, Crenshaw said her family will be at the library multiple times a week. Last year, they came nearly every day. Aside from the food, Crenshaw says she and her kids love the play areas and programming the library provides. 

“The outside playground is covered and they have security and it’s fenced in, so I have no worries while we’re playing,” she said. “And all the books and toys that we get to play with are awesome, and the kids enjoy it.”

Crenshaw, whose children range in age from four years old to 13, said she appreciates how the program includes teenagers, too.

“I like that it’s 18 or under,” she said. “I see a lot of teenagers come here and get stuff.”

The program is also available at summer camps, youth centers and parks across the county. Crenshaw said she loves that the program is at multiple locations and that it can provide nutritious meals for kids who may not have access to them during the summer. 

“I think it’s amazing,” Crenshaw said. “There’s a lot of kids that, you know, may not be as fortunate to have breakfast and lunch, so it’s a place they can go.”

Crenshaw said it not only provides a great meal for her kids, but a positive environment, too. 

“It is so positive to have the environment and to show people how everybody can be happy and work together and be loving and share,” she said.

“And the food’s so good!” One of Crenshaw’s daughters said.

Crenshaw said she’s grateful for the program, the library and all the services it provides. 

“We love this library,” she said. “The staff is amazing. The program’s amazing. Thank you.”

There are hundreds of Summer BreakSpot locations across Central Florida, including 230 locations in Orange County. To find a location near you, call 2-1-1 or visit Summer BreakSpot’s interactive map. To get a meal, all you have to do is show up during dining hours. There is no registration required and meals are free-for-all kids under 18.

Reagan Ryan is a 2023 — 2025 Report for America Corps Member, covering the environment and climate across Central Florida for Spectrum News 13. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.