We know behind every hungry child, there is a hungry family. Through our partnership with local qualifying school districts, kids receiving free lunches or breakfasts through the national Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) also get to take a bag of fresh produce to share with their family.
The SFSP is a nationwide program which gives critical food support to children 4-5 days a week during summer break. It helps fill the nutrition gap experienced by students who receive free or reduced-priced breakfasts and/or lunches during the school year, but the program is open to any child under the age of 18 needing a meal.
The harsh reality is that sometimes these kids can only count on these school meals for a steady source of fuel for their growing bodies. Without this program, there are kids who would be forced to skip daily meals in the summer.
Summer meals are served and produce is given out at schools and other central locations such as libraries and community centers. One mom who brought her daughter to get lunch told us the produce they receive from the Food Bank really helps when “you have to choose between buying your kid shoes and buying food.”
During the school year, the Food Bank’s Farm 2 Kids program allows students to take home fresh fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, onions, apples and oranges. However, the summer produce we give away in conjunction with SFSP consists of some of nature’s tastiest treasures including peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and tomatoes! Often this premium-priced produce is out of low-income family budgets and is considered to be a real treat.
Learn more about local SFSP locations by visiting foodbankccs.org/summerlunch
