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Kids Eat Free Program

Celebrating 10 years of service at MUSC!

The mission of Kids Eat Free at MUSC is to optimize health by providing adequate nutrition to children when school is out for summer break.

This USDA-sponsored program (Summer Food Service Program) ensures children have access to nutritious food when school is not in session by providing lunch to children in our cafeterias at no cost to the families or the enterprise.

We are proud to be the first hospital in the Southeast to ever participate in a summer feeding program, serving 2,385 meals our first year. Our partnership with Morrison, MUSC's premier food service provider, and our expansion of Kids Eat Free to the Pee Dee division brought our service numbers to over 52,000 nutritious meals in the past 10 years!

During the summer months (when school is out) kids and teens can join us in participating MUSC hospital cafeterias for a hot lunch meal of their choice Monday through Friday.

We plan to provide meals to the community again in the Charleston and Pee Dee divisions and beyond for Summer 2025. Check this webpage closer to the summer months to find specific Kids Eat Free at MUSC sites, days, and times.

Child Nutrition Program Waiver Request dated March 12, 2025
Sponsor: MUSC SF-6541
Waiver for Offer versus Serve (OVS) 7 CFR 225.16 (f)(1)(ii)

MUHA/MUSC, as a program sponsor, is requesting a waiver for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 7 CFR225.16 (f)(1)(ii) to run the program as OVS in a health care institution.

As a healthcare institution MUHA/MUSC is invested in promoting positive health behaviors to mitigate disease risk by providing our employees, visitors and patients access to healthy food choices. The OVS model helps us maintain the spirit of that initiative and allows us to better meet the nutritional needs of children, promote choice in meal selection (which improves consumption), minimize food waste and reduce food cost. Additionally, OVS starts lifelong habits for children to select nutritious food that they will consume. Offering children the power of choice is an important building block in developing healthy eating habits.

MUHA is requesting a waiver of 7 CFR225.16(f)(1)(ii) which states:
Offer versus serve. School food authorities that are Program sponsors may permit a child to refuse one or more items that the child does not intend to eat. The reimbursements to school food authorities for Program meals served under this "offer versus serve" option must not be reduced because children choose not to take all components of the meals that are offered.

As a non-school food authority sponsor in good standing, we wish to utilize OVS following the SFSP OVS requirements outlined in SFSP 05-2016 Meal Service Requirements in the Summer Meal Programs. We have only participated as a sponsor in SFSP using OVS and administrative reviews have found zero deficiencies related to OVS implementation.

MUSC Health Kids Eat Free 2025 Summer Service Locations, Dates, and Hours

Kids Eat Free at MUSC serves only during the summer months when school is out. We adjust service dates for each site in accordance with the closest school district's calendar. You will find Kids Eat Free at MUSC in most of our hospital cafeterias, in various divisions throughout the state. Check this website for specific locations, dates, and times of service closer to the summer months.

Additionally, the Summer Food Service Program has over 1,000 sites in South Carolina. You can find these sites by utilizing one of the resources below.

Call: 211 or 866-3-HUNGRY (866-348-6479)
Visit: USDA Find Summer Meals website

Charleston

  • University, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston
    June 9 through August 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Ashley River Tower, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston
    June 9 through August 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, 10 McClennan Banks Drive, Charleston
    June 9 through August 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Florence

  • Black River Medical Center, 3555 Williamsburg County Highway, Cades
    June 30 through July 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Marion Medical Center, 2829 US-76, Mullins
    June 30 through July 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Florence Medical Center, 805 Pamplico Highway, Florence
    June 30 through July 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • CatawbaLancaster Medical Center, 800 West Meeting Street, Lancaster
    June 16 through July 25, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Chester Medical Center, One Medical Park Drive, Chester
    June 16 through July 25, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Orangeburg

  • Orangeburg Medical Center, 3000 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg
    June 16 through July 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Midlands

  • Kershaw Medical Center, 1315 Roberts Street, Camden
    June 23 through August 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Participate?

All children ages 18 and younger have access to the program, no matter where they live nor what brings them to MUSC.

How Does it Work?

The Kids Eat Free at MUSC program offers hot lunch meals to those 18 and younger at designated locations and during designated hours. Families are encouraged to stay and eat their meals on site.

How Can I Learn More About Food Insecurity and the USDA Program?

To learn more or request assistance, please contact Laura Nance at nancel@musc.edu.

Serving Summer Meals

A valuable resource for health care organization looking to engage in the fight against hunger.

Read the guide (PDF).

Join the Fight Against Hunger

Food insecurity contributes to the rising cost of health care. Participation in hunger relief programs within health care’s existing infrastructure provides an opportunity to improve population health by increasing access to nutritious meals for those most in need. The purpose of this implementation guide is to provide:

  • Basic information on the impact of food insecurity on health and the cost of health care.
  • A brief explanation of the USDA's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
  • Examples of SFSP in a variety of hospitals and Health care settings.
  • Steps for exploring how SFSP can be implemented in new hospitals and Health care settings.

In the News

To learn more, request assistance, or volunteer, please contact Laura Nance at nancel@musc.edu.

Find a Summer Feeding Site
Close to You

Call: 211 or 866-3-HUNGRY
(866-348-6479)

Visit:
USDA: Find Summer Meals