The end of classes in June means endless joy for the kids, right? If they are one of the 30 million students who qualify for federally funded meal programs, they may now face “summer hunger” — a condition in which food-insecure families lose access to the free breakfasts and lunches their children rely on in school. The result is more anxiety, health problems and academic decline for the rest of the year.
“We know summer is the hungriest time of the year,” said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York, an organization that works to end childhood hunger nationwide. phenomenon, the organization partnered with HelloFresh and YouGov to commission a survey on the topic. The survey shows that 41% of parents have struggled in some way to provide food while schools are closed, and nearly half (44%) are more worried about feeding their children now than they were this time last year.
Additionally, the research found that among parents struggling to feed everyone in the household, 75% are at least somewhat concerned about being able to afford food during the school holidays, while nearly half (42%) say they Skip meals to ensure your child is well fed. Most said they would either budget more carefully (60%) or cut other expenses (52%) to address summer food concerns.
The survey, conducted in May and released on June 20, collected responses from 459 U.S. parents of children under 18 years old.
It seeks to get the latest information on the reality of summer hunger, which experts already know can lead to physical, behavioral and mental health problems in children, as well as poor academic performance when schools reopen – so-called “summer hunger”. film,” which has a disproportionate impact on low-income children, not to mention the impact on the mental health of parents, who may experience depression and anxiety due to the difficulties of raising children.
“We know that when children and families miss meals, it affects their physical health and mental health. We know that children who start their day with school breakfast have better attendance, perform better in school, and have fewer long-term health problems. less. wealth. “When they don’t have regular access to these foods during the summer, they become frustrated. This can lead to learning loss.
It’s also a “real mental health issue,” she added, and “a lot of families think, ‘I’m alone and no one else is struggling like this.'” They don’t want to seek help because of the stigma associated with it. That’s what we really want to get out of it.
Sabella said what the group really wants to emphasize is that “the meals are out there.” “If you qualify, you should eat these meals.”
where to find help
Sabella said her organization has been advocating for two different types of federal programs implemented this year: Summer EBT, available nationwide to opt-in states, brings $120 summer grocery benefits to qualifying households , found that the benefit reduced one-third of households with children who sometimes went hungry. (But nonetheless, 15 states have not opted in, including Alabama, Georgia and Nebraska, whose governors have said, “I don’t believe in welfare.”)
There are also non-concentrated feeding programs such as grab-and-go or home delivery for rural communities, where 48% of parents have friends or relatives who experience food insecurity when school is out (compared to 48% of parents overall) A proportion of 36%), the survey found.
For those struggling in rural areas, 92% said they were concerned about being able to afford food for their families during the school holidays, and 77% were worried about being able to provide their children with meals they would normally receive at school. Similarly, in the South, 82% are concerned about being able to afford food during the summer, and 66% are concerned about being able to provide the meals typically provided by schools.
Other solutions facing challenges with adequate publicity include local emergency food providers, whether community organizations or faith-based facilities, and food pantries — some of which partner with HelloFresh, which donates its surplus food, Sabella said.
“I think a lot of us feel like, you know, we’re through this pandemic. Things are back to normal. But food insecurity hasn’t gotten better since the pandemic, it’s actually gotten worse. wealth. “When we started getting into the details, we found that there was a cost of living crisis that was really putting greater financial pressure on parents. I think the magnitude of some of it surprised us. [food insecurity] The numbers are.