For children, summertime should mean friends and fun. However, for children who rely on school meals for their primary nutrition, summer can be a time of uncertainty about where and when they’ll have access to nutritious meals. The Summer Food Service Program is part of the USDA and Texas Department of Agriculture’s food and nutrition programs similar to the Free and Reduced-Price meal programs in schools. These programs are all part of the efforts aimed at combating childhood hunger. 22% of children struggle with periods of food insecurity – meaning their families may not know where they’re getting their next meal. In Texas, that number is actually higher with 27% of children experiencing food insecurity. The summer meals program helps to ensure that the children that depend on school breakfast and lunch during the school year also have a reliable source of quality nutrition when school is out for the summer.
Food insecurity in children has been linked to poor performance in school, reduced attention in class, behavioral issues, increased school absences, higher rates of special education or mental health counseling and more suicidal or depressive tendencies. Chronic hunger can also lead to many health issues later in life and is associated with increased rates of hospitalization. The summer meals program tries to ensure that the children and families that depend on it during the school year don’t lose some of the progress they made during the year because of the issues associated with food insecurity.
In Houston, the program is operated by the Houston Parks & Recreation Department and there are more than 470 sites across the city. The sites vary in their locations and settings including community centers, churches, apartment complexes, learning centers, and non-profit organizations. The program is open to any child between 1 and 18 years old regardless of income and there is no registration required. To find a site near you, call 2-1-1 or 713.676.6832.