Summer Hunger is Too Expensive to Ignore

Access to healthy and nutritious food should not be limited to the months that fall within the school year. Imagine closing the gap between 21.7 million kids receiving a free or reduced-price lunch during the school year and the 3.8 million children receiving meals through the federal nutrition programs over the summer. Millions more children would experience the associated health and education benefits, including increased food security, improved physical and mental health, and decreased summer learning loss. Ultimately, this can lead to long-term economic improvements for the children and their communities.