Summer is the Hungriest Time of the Year
David Scanlan
President, Sodexo Government Services
While most kids look forward to a summer of sun and fun, for those who rely on school meals, summer can be a time of uncertainty with regard to if and where their next meal will come from. During the school year, 21 million kids receive free and reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches. For many of them it’s the most dependable source of food that they have throughout the week. During weekends, holidays and the summer when schools are closed, that reliable source of nutrition is no longer available to them. In fact, when school lets out for the summer, only 3.8 million actually participate in summer meal programs. That means 86% of eligible kids may not have access to regular meals during the summer months. Simply put, this is unacceptable.
The sad fact is that nearly one in five children in America lives in a household that struggles to put food on the table. That’s 16 million American children who are at risk of childhood hunger every day. Experiencing food insecurity can affect a child’s health, cognition, academic performance and emotional and social well-being. According to Share Our Strength, research conducted by Children’s HealthWatch and reported on by Feeding America [Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on Our Nation] there are strong ties between nutrition and overall health and well-being:
