FILLING THE SUMMER MEAL GAP

School’s out, but summer break often means children aren’t receiving the important nutrition assistance they normally receive in free and reduced price school meals. With nearly half of students across the country eligible for free or reduced price school meals, it’s not surprising that summer, when students don’t receive their meals in school, often leads to increased levels of hunger for students. The federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) attempts to fill the summer meals gap by providing funding to nonprofit entities to serve meals in congregate settings to low-income children during summer breaks. Communities in which 50% percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals can participate in SFSP. Unfortunately fewer than 15% percent of children who participate in free- or reduced-price meals during the school year participate in the SFSP.

 

Source:  First Focus, 6/12/14, Summer Meals