Across the U.S., millions of children rely on free school meals, but when summer starts, that safety net disappears. Though the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds summer meal programs, many families don’t know they exist or how to access them. In Pennsylvania, only one in 12 eligible children receives summer meals.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) recognized how critical it is to fill that gap, to help ensure no child goes hungry when school is out. Learn More

Complete Eats started in 2017 when Dr. Danielle Cullen and her team launched a small pilot offering free summer meals right in CHOP’s Emergency Department, meeting families where they already were.

The effort quickly proved that providing meals in a clinical setting could reach children who might otherwise miss out. That success became the foundation for a program now thriving across CHOP’s Care Network.

Strong partnerships made growth possible. Through the USDA Food Service Program, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, CHOP expanded Complete Eats from the pilot in the Emergency Department to a total of nine CHOP Care Network sites.

Families can stop by any site for a healthy, free breakfast or lunch for children of all ages regardless of whether they are CHOP patients — no forms, no questions.

Led by CHOP site managers who volunteer their time to host and oversee each location, Complete Eats has served more than 180,000 free meals since 2017 — including 18,000 in the summer of 2025 alone.

Beyond food, the program connects families to community resources and builds awareness of free meal options, reducing stigma and ensuring no child goes hungry when school is out.

Complete Eats thrives on partnership and volunteer spirit. CHOP’s collaboration with Nutritional Development Services provides the foundation for federal meal support, while CHOP employees, community volunteers, and participants in the Career Path Program for individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions help serve and distribute meals.

Their dedication turns a simple lunch line into a place of connection, inclusion and care, and keeps the program running and growing each summer.

As participation grows, so does CHOP’s commitment to ensuring every child has access to healthy meals year-round.

Powered by volunteers and strong community partnerships, Complete Eats shows how hospitals can help fight food insecurity, and how awareness can make all the difference.

Explore more about how Complete Eats helps children thrive. Learn more about CHOP's Career Path Program and the Nutritional Development Services' Summer Food Service Program.

Find a Summer Meals for Kids site near you.