Think back to when you were younger, playing with your friends during summer break and coming home to a delicious lunch made for you.
Unfortunately, not all children will have a delicious lunch waiting for them at home. When school’s out for summer, these children are missing crucial meals like breakfast and lunch that help them learn. In Central Florida, 1 in 5 children are at-risk of going to bed hungry tonight.
This is why programs like USDA’s Summer Break Spots are vital to ensuring children in all communities have the same access to meals, no matter their situation. This program is funded through the Child Nutrition Reauthorization approved by Congress every five years.
This summer, Second Harvest Food Bank is providing meals to over 100 Summer Break Spots in Central Florida. Your support of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization will ensure that kids receive these nutritious meals during the summer.
Many families are left wondering how to feed their children during summer months as schools close. Research shows that 43% of low-income families in America find it harder to make ends meet during summer1.
On average, low-income families spend $316 more in food over the summer1. Programs like Summer Break Spots are crucial for kids to have access to a free breakfast, lunch and snacks on a daily basis throughout summer without the added expense for families.
Unfortunately, the Summer Break Spot program doesn’t reach all children who receive free or reduced meals in school. In fact, out of the 22 million kids who receive free or reduced meals, only 4 million are receiving a summer meal. Take the pledge to advocate for programs like Summer Break Spots to be fully funded so no kid is at-risk of going to bed hungry at www.feedhopenow.org/advocate.
To find a Summer Break Spot location near you visit www.summerbreakspot.org or text FOOD to 877-877.
Sources:
1. Share Our Strength Center for Best Practices, “Summer Meals Survey of Parents,” http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/summer-meals/summermeals-survey-findings, accessed March 12, 2015.