Across America, there are children who are concerned about the last day of school before summer vacation. Instead of looking forward to days filled with outdoor activities, they look ahead and see themselves without much to do in the summer, and all too often, without food. They think of empty cupboards and refrigerators, and of missing the school cafeteria and the meals they are served during the school year.
Summer should be a fun and carefree time for children, but too often it is the time of year when children are most at risk of experiencing hunger. Nearly 21 million children eat free or reduced-price meals each day during the school year through the National School Lunch Program. The majority of these children lose access to these meals when schools let out for summer vacation. (Only about 3.5 million receive meals through the Summer Food Service Program.) For this reason, child hunger is most common and most severe during the summer months.
If you operate a program that involves children from low-income families, you may qualify to receive reimbursements for meals served. (USDA Rural Development’s Multi-Family Unit Facilities can often qualify to be a program sponsor or meal site.) Please click on this link – Summer Meals – to learn more. You can also contact Bart Bushman at 303-844-0310 or bart.bushman@fns.usda.gov for more information.
