Participation in the US Department of Agriculture's Summer Meal Programs: 2019-2021

Kara Burkholder; Brooke L Bennett; Sarah L McKee; Juliana F W Cohen; Ran Xu; Marlene B Schwartz

doi:10.1111/josh.13438

Participation in the US Department of Agriculture's Summer Meal Programs: 2019-2021

J Sch Health. 2024 Jan 23. doi: 10.1111/josh.13438. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kara Burkholder¹, Brooke L Bennett², Sarah L McKee³, Juliana F W Cohen⁴, Ran Xu⁵, Marlene B Schwartz⁶

Affiliations

¹ Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
² Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT; Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
³ Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
⁴ School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA: Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
⁵ Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
⁶ Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.

PMID: 38258650
DOI: 10.1111/josh.13438

Abstract

Background: The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) summer meal programs are designed to provide meals at no cost while school is out of session. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several regulatory waivers were enacted to facilitate meal distribution. The aim of this study was to assess the rates of meal distribution before and after these waivers were in effect.

Methods: Meal distribution patterns for 2019, 2020, and 2021 were examined through (1) a descriptive comparison of the number of participating districts, sponsors, meal sites, and meals distributed statewide, and (2) repeated measures ANOVAs to examine changes among districts in operation all years.

Results: The waivers were associated with an increase in the total number of participating districts, sponsors, and meal sites; an increase in the total number of meals distributed to children during the summer months; and an increase in meal distribution among sponsors that had been in place since 2019.

Conclusion: Expanding the area eligibility criteria and enabling flexibility in meal distribution methods increased the number of meals provided. This study provides important preliminary evidence to suggest that the USDA should consider permanent regulatory changes to this program to maximize its reach.

Keywords: Seamless Summer Option; food insecurity; school nutrition; summer food service program; summer meal program.

Abstract

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