If you’re watching kids this summer on a tight budget, two programs could help.
Free breakfasts and lunches are being offered to children at 33 locations as part of the Wichita Public Schools Summer Food Program. The program runs through July 25. The free meals are available to all children ages 1-18, not just WPS students or students who qualify for free/reduced meals. Visit www.usd259.org/summerfood for locations, times and menus.
This summer, WPS will operate two different types of sites. The majority will be dine-in sites, where children have to be present and meals must be consumed on site. No application or registration is needed for dine-in sites.
The USDA has designated Southeast High School as a rural school, allowing WPS to offer a week’s worth of grab-and-go meals at this site only. Children don’t need to be present, but a parent or guardian has to pick up the meals. Online registration is required each week to receive meals and will be capped at 3,000 children. Visit www.usd259.org/summerfood for more information and to register.
The Kansas State Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsor the Summer Food Service Program.
Also, nearly 20 local attractions are participating in the 2025 Kansas Tourism Sunflower Summer program, Visit Wichita announced.
The Sunflower Summer Program is a benefit for Kansas families with school-aged children to encourage them to explore Kansas. Eligible Kansas families can download the Sunflower Summer App to claim tickets to participating venues. One adult ticket is eligible for free admission with eligible students. The 2025 Sunflower Summer season will run from July 12-Aug. 3.
In Sedgwick County, participating attractions include: Botanica Wichita, CityArts – City of Wichita, Derby Historical Museum, Exploration Place, Field Station: Dinosaurs, Great Plains Nature Center, Kansas African American Museum, Kansas Aviation Museum, Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, Mark Arts, Mid-America All Indian Museum, Museum of World Treasures, Old Cowtown Museum, Sedgwick County Zoo, Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum and the Wichita Wind Surge.
“We are thrilled to have so many of our amazing attractions participating in the 2025 Kansas Sunflower Summer program,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita.
To discover more about the Sunflower Summer program, visit SunflowerSummer.org.
