New York City’s summer meals program is officially back. The initiative offers free breakfast and lunch to any person 18 years and younger throughout the entirety of the summer.

Alongside Schools Chancellor David Banks, Mayor Eric Adams made the announcement on Friday at PS 188 in Manhattan, where they kicked off the start of Summer Rising, a summer school program which offers a combination of academics and recreational activities to all public school students kindergarten through eighth grade.

The program, which was introduced by former Mayor Bill de Blasio last summer, is a partnership between the Department of Education and Department of Youth and Community Development to respond to pandemic-related learning loss.

Adams said at the conference that students have experienced summer academic related setbacks for decades known as the summer slide.

"We saw summer decline, now we say summer rising," he said.

A typical day for Summer Rising includes academics, taught by DOE teachers, camp-like activities, run by community-based organizations. 

According to the city, no registration, documentation or identification is required in order to receive a free meal this summer.

The meals are being distributed at over 300 locations throughout the city, including public schools, community pool centers and parks, according to the city.

A full list of 2022 summer meal locations can be found on the NYCDOE's website, by texting NYC Food to 304-304, or by calling 311.

On top of touting the free meals for New York City children, Adams, an evangelist of the benefits of eating healthy, emphasized the quality of the food children will be served.

“One of my top priorities as mayor is ensuring that our children have the necessary and nutritious meals they need to learn and grow into the great New Yorkers who will one day run our city,” Adams said. “Today’s kickoff of free summer meals, coupled with the launch of Summer Rising, only further highlights this administration’s unwavering commitment to the young people of this city.”

“It is essential that our youngest New Yorkers have access to healthy and nourishing meals, particularly while school is not in session during the summer months,” Banks added.