Media Contact:                         

Jordan Baker                                                                       
jbaker@frac.org
202-640-1118

WASHINGTON, October 22, 2024 — A new report released today by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), the nation’s leading anti-hunger advocacy organization, reveals too many children are missing out on afterschool suppers and snacks. 

FRAC’s Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot of Participation — October 2023 report finds that 1.23 million children throughout the country received an afterschool supper on an average school day in October 2023, a slight increase of 73,878 from October 2022. There was also an increase in afterschool snack participation: 1.25 million children received an afterschool snack, an increase of 63,112 children from October 2022.  

Despite the slight growth in participation, the reach of afterschool suppers remains too low, and participation has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.   

During the pandemic, participation in afterschool meal programs remained relatively stable, due to waivers issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address the operational challenges created by the pandemic. Participation in these meal programs declined in the year the waivers expired, and afterschool programs struggled to recover from the impact of the pandemic, most without adequate resources. 

“Childhood hunger is on the rise, and children are still recovering from the educational, social, and emotional impacts of the pandemic,” said Crystal FitzSimons, FRAC’s interim president. “To address these challenges, greater investments are needed to ensure children are able to get the nutrition they need at afterschool programs that provide critical education supports, enrichment, and child care.”  

Key report findings:  

  • 1.23 million children received an afterschool supper on an average school day in October 2023.  
  • 1.25 million children received an afterschool snack, an increase of 63,112 children from October 2022. 
  • Participation in afterschool suppers increased by 73,878 children, or 6.4 percent, in October 2023 when compared to October 2022.  
  • Just 1 child for every 16 children who received free or reduced-price school lunch in October 2023 was served by the Afterschool Supper Program.   
  • 46,308 sites served afterschool suppers and/or snacks in 2023, an increase of 8,075 sites from 2022. 

FRAC set the goal of reaching 15 children with the Afterschool Supper Program for every 100 children participating in free or reduced-price school lunch and calculated the shortfall in terms of the number of unserved children and the federal dollars lost in October 2023 in each state that is not meeting this goal. If every state had served supper to 15 children for every 100 children from households with low incomes who participated in school lunch in October 2023, then more than 1.7 million additional children would have received a nutritious meal after school. 

Participation in afterschool suppers varied significantly by state in October 2023, and almost half of states saw growth. Both the state level of participation and the drops in participation in October 2023 highlight the need to increase participation in nearly all states moving forward.   

“Offering afterschool meals also can help draw children into the programs that keep them learning, safe, and engaged after school,” added FitzSimons. 

The report comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Afterschool Alliance’s annual Lights On Afterschool celebration on October 24, which will shine a light on the important role afterschool programs play in supporting families and communities.

“As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Lights On Afterschool, communities across the nation are rallying for afterschool programs and the critical role they play in supporting the health and well-being of youth. Afterschool programs provide healthy snacks and meals, opportunities to be active, and a safe place for youth to learn and grow — all of which are essential for youth to thrive. Now is the time to recommit to supporting afterschool programs and the children they serve,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance.

Read the report and learn more about Lights On Afterschool at www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa. 

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The Food Research & Action Center improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.