The Summer Hunger Gap: When School Ends, Who Feeds Our Kids?

The start of summer vacation brings relief for many Connecticut families. But for the approximately 80,000 Connecticut children who rely on free and reduced price school meals during the school year, summer brings a very different reality.

School meal programs are the primary source of consistent, nutritious food for hundreds of thousands of children across the country. When school lets out in June, that lifeline disappears. Families who are already managing tight budgets suddenly need to cover three meals a day, seven days a week, for weeks on end.

CONNECTICUT'S SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free nutritious meals to children 18 and under at approved community sites during the summer months. Participation is open to all children at these sites; no income verification is required.

The challenge is awareness. Many families who would benefit from these programs do not know they exist. Others face transportation barriers that make reaching a meal site difficult.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Sharing information about summer meal programs is one of the most impactful things anyone can do. If you work with families, coach youth sports, or are simply connected to your community, spreading the word about free summer meals can make a real difference.

CT Foodshare also expands its programming during the summer months specifically to address the hunger gap. Our virtual food drive supports this expanded capacity. Summertime donations go directly toward keeping shelves stocked at a time of year when need spikes and general giving tends to decline.

Support our virtual food drive: https://donate.ctfoodshare.org/campaign/the-white-oak-bridge/c598051

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