Another Summer of Good Food Meeting Good Work
Another summer of nutritious meals and community partnerships is in the books for CFI’s Summer Meals Program. In 2026, we served more children than ever before, providing more than 253,000 free meals to 5,022 children across southeast Wisconsin and expanding our services in Racine County.
CFI was Wisconsin’s largest Summer Food Service Program sponsor, supporting 12.6% of the state’s summer meal sites. Our Food & Nutrition Services team prepared and served 138 locations—44 of them new—representing a 36% increase in sites from 2025.
Sites offered 300 meal serving periods with a variety of meal types offered (breakfast, lunch, snacks and supper), a 58% increase from the previous year. Overall, CFI served 72,000 more meals than 2025, a 40% increase. The program also continued to grow in Racine County, expanding from two sites to nine.
While the program’s growth is reflected in the numbers, its success is rooted in the community partnerships that help make meals accessible to children where they live, learn and play.
“The partnership, support and commitment to food security make a meaningful difference in the lives of many families,” said a representative of the Donovan Hines Foundation of Exuberance Co. “Thank you for allowing us to participate in the 2026 Summer Meals Program. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve children and families in our community and help ensure that nutritious meals were available throughout the summer.”
To celebrate the season’s success, we joined Hunger Task Force, Sargento and the Milwaukee Brewers for the Summer Sizzle, a community event where kids enjoyed a free meal, games, face painting and new baseball gloves. Brewers players Logan Henderson and Cooper Pratt served meals and spent time with the kids, while our team shared information about nutrition services and offered watermelon samples—a crowd favorite.
While the 2026 Summer Meals Program season has ended, the work of ensuring access to nutritious food continues. Throughout the year, our Food & Nutrition Services team prepares meals for schools, day cares and other community organizations.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this summer a success. Together, we’ve ensured that thousands of children had access to nutritious meals while school was out—helping them stay healthy, active and ready to learn when they return to the classroom.
About CFI’s Food and Nutrition Services
CFI’s nutrition services support health, learning and community connection by providing safe, nutritious meals across education and community settings. Our team prepares and delivers meals for schools, daycares, adult programs and community organizations, designed to meet the specific nutrient needs of the children and individuals we serve. We also provide specialized training for school food and nutrition service teams, along with nutrition and wellness education that supports lifelong healthy habits.