Research has found that children consume up to 50 percent of their total daily calories at school. Children who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs for nourishment are often left with enough to eat during weekends and evenings. During the summer or spring and winter breaks, many families are unable to obtain the meals that their children need. Many of the existing summer food programs say the only way children can benefit from food at a summer food site is if they consume the meal on site. But many school systems fail to supply transportation during these breaks and the cost of round trip fuel costs may exceed the cost of the lunch that the child receives.
We know that hungry children are distracted from learning. Hunger in children is linked to delayed development, learning difficulties and a high risk of health conditions like asthma. Hungry children also are a greater risk of behaviorl and social difficulties. This can lead to truancy, school tardiness and and dropping out. Instead of requiring that children travel to a site each day to eat a meal, what if families receive a card to purchase the food that is needed during the school breaks?