Summer Food: Hungry Kids

In July 1999 on an average weekday, 3.2 million children from low-income families received meals at recreation, schools, tutoring and other sites through two federal nutrition programs, according to the Fod Research and Action Center (FRAC) in Washington D.C. They are the Summer Food Service (SFSP) program and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

According to the FRAC report "Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation" only 1 in 5 or 20% of the 14.9 million eligible children is being served by one of these two programs. In Pennsylvania the percentage is somewhat better 27.9%, but far from meeting the need. In Pennsylvania 460,709 children eligible and only 128,505 children participating.

Summer nutrition initiatives are vital, because when school is out most children lose their access to school lunches and breakfasts which can provide as much as ¼ to ½ of the nutrients low-income children consume every weekday of the school year. In summer some children also lose access to afterschool programs where they might get additional nutrition.

The Second Harvest National Food Bank Network reports that during summer requests for emergency food for children go up. Clearly summer is a time when low-income children are at increased nutritional risk.

What can be done? The SFSP is available to community groups, schools and other programs which gather children during the summer. There are many ways to take part in this program from serving day camp meals to having mobile rural sites.

Summer food sites are desperately needed to assure the health and nutrition of the youngest Pennsylvanians. To find out more about this program, call Susan Still at the Department of Education at 1-800-331-0129.

Sue N. Mitchem
August 23, 2000