Published April 1, 2026

Hunger doesn’t stop when school lets out — and for millions of children, summer can be the hungriest time of year when they no longer have access to school meals. 

This week, the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) released Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: The Reach of Summer Meals, which examined how well the Summer Meals Programs reached children in July 2024, nationally and in every state, compared to July 2023. 

The findings show meaningful progress. 

  • Nearly 3.2 million children received a summer lunch through the Summer Meals Programs on an average day in July 2024.  
  • 16.2 children received a summer lunch for every 100 who received a free or reduced-price school lunch during the 2023–2024 school year.  
  • Participation in breakfast increased by 380,648 children compared to July 2023.  
  • Lunch participation exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with 383,388 more children participating in July 2024 than in July 2019.  

Summer 2024 represented a new chapter in the fight against summer hunger. The Summer Meals Programs grew to include a Rural Non-Congregate option, complementing traditional congregate meal sites that often offer educational or enrichment activities. At the same time, the permanent Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program launched in 37 states. Together, these initiatives improve access to healthy food throughout the summer for children from households with low incomes. 

Despite the increase in participation in summer 2024, millions of children are still missing out on summer meals. As policy changes and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) continue to roll out because of the 2025 budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1, more children are at risk of becoming food insecure. This makes programs such as the Summer Nutrition Programs even more vital for children.  

To ensure every child has access to the nutrition they need during the summer, policymakers must take action by repealing harmful SNAP cuts, increasing funding for summer programs, strengthening the Summer EBT Program, and lowering the area eligibility threshold so more communities can participate in Summer Meals Programs. Together, these supports will help ensure children have consistent access to nutritious food and are ready to succeed when they return to school in the fall.