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Many parks and recreation programs across the country are making a huge difference in their communities by providing safe environments for children during the summer months. Summer can be a time of nutritional uncertainty, lost physical activity, and academic atrophy for children, especially low-income children. With school and school meals suddenly unavailable, kids may fall behind in reading and math, fall out of touch with friends and teachers, and fall into eating habits that threaten both obesity and malnutrition. Kids also lose the time and space for sports and play, as many working parents tell their children to stay indoors for safety reasons. But parks and recreation programs are answering parents’ concerns by providing a space where children can gather, and offering enrichment activities that keep children learning and engaged. These programs are also addressing hunger and nutrition concerns by serving meals to children in their care.
Actually, serving meals at a summer program may be easier than one might think. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federal nutrition program, reimburses organizations for serving free meals and snacks to low-income children 18 years and younger when school is not in session. Local government agencies, school districts, and nonprofits are eligible to participate. To receive reimbursement, an organization that participates as a sponsor must serve meals that meet USDA nutrition guidelines.
Oftentimes, sponsors find that serving meals draws more children to their programs. Dollars and cents also can add up. For example, a summer program serving breakfast and lunch to 50 children for 8 weeks (or a 40-day program) receives approximately $11,250 in federal funding through SFSP.