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When I first started working in food banking, my job was focused on summer food programs. It was clear then – and now – that summer is one of the most difficult times of year for families with children.

During the school year, many kids rely on school programs for breakfast, lunch, and sometimes afterschool meals in order to meet their daily nutritional needs. When school ends, so does access to those meals.

This is a logistical, financial, and educational issue for families facing food insecurity. Suddenly, families are responsible for two or three additional meals per day, per child. Meanwhile, rural areas may have limited summer meal sites for kids, making it even harder to get food to the children who need it most.

The structure of these programs can make it even more difficult. Summer food providers are reimbursed by the Arizona Department of Education based on the number of meals they serve. But in rural communities, fewer children can access the sites, whether due to distance, lack of transportation, or inconsistent schedules, so those sites receive less funding and are harder to keep open. 

Then there’s the hidden cost to summer hunger: learning loss. Kids who aren’t getting enough to eat are more focused on survival than on retaining what they learned during the school year, making the so-called “summer slump” even more pronounced.

Some of the most effective policies we’ve seen in combating child hunger were in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Allowing families to pick up multiple meals for several days, instead of requiring a daily visit, and removing congregate dining requirements were game-changers. It reduced transportation barriers and allowed families to better plan and prepare meals. These small policy changes are an example of how a little advocacy can go a long way. These flexibilities need to be protected to ensure nutrition for children in rural communities. 

Now, however, there are proposals to either cut SNAP benefits or increase eligibility requirements, which may not explicitly target children, but still impact them profoundly. When parents lose access to support, entire families bear the burden, especially kids.

At Flagstaff Family Food Center, we’re actively exploring how we can better meet the needs of children and families during the summer. Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our community. They can’t advocate for themselves, so it’s up to all of us to show up for them.