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.
Many people think of spring break as a reprieve from homework, time for fun, or just a time to relax and recharge. But for the millions of children who lose access to free school breakfast and lunch and their parents who count on those meals to make ends meet, spring break creates significant financial pressure and stress for the family. And with the affordability crisis, matters are even worse.
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program is a proven method for decreasing food insecurity and increasing nutrition for children during the summer months. The program provides $120 per summer period per eligible child for households to use for groceries while school is out of session.
Across the U.S., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an economic mobility engine for struggling families and a cornerstone of national public health, economic resilience, and anti-poverty policy. More than 42 million people rely on SNAP each month, including over 16 million children.
This Week is CACFP Week, a national education and information campaign to raise awareness of how the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger.