A Food Bank Collaborates with Federal Food Assistance Programs to Reduce Child Hunger

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a summer feeding program for low-income children, less than one-quarter of eligible children participate. Another federal child nutrition program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), provides funding for snacks and meals served to after-school programs. The purpose of this paper is to describe how a local food bank became involved with these programs and grew statewide participation from 40,000 to 128,000 children in a 4-year period in the summer feeding program and more than doubled the number of meals served in CACFP. The use of the organization's community training kitchen is explained and the role of volunteers is highlighted in keeping program costs to a minimum. We hope that showcasing our successful experience with the Summer Food Service Program will encourage other food service operations to consider undertaking this worthwhile effort to help meet the nutritional needs of low-income children.