by Ashley Baughman
   
As the recession persists, this summer is proving to be particularly hard for low-income families. Unemployment figures released this month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that 14.5 million Americans are unemployed (9.4 percent) — more than double since the start of the recession. Research shows that millions of New York City residents depleted their savings in 2008 and would not be able to afford food immediately after losing their household income. As indicated by the Food Bank’s report, NYC Hunger Experience 2008 Update, 25 percent of households with children in the city would be unable to afford food immediately after a loss of household income, and 50 percent would be unable to afford food within three months. Each year, as the school year ends and summer break arrives, families are confronted with the challenge of ensuring their children have enough to eat without regular meals from school breakfast and lunch programs.

The city’s Summer Food Service Program – also known as Summer Meals – can be a real safety net for struggling families. It provides all children up to age 18 with free breakfast and lunch at schools, community-based organizations, parks and pools throughout the city during the summer — with no forms to complete or office visits to apply. It exists to ensure that children who need it have access to food year-round, not just in school.

The Food Bank is working to increase access to the Summer Meals program by recruiting New York City soup kitchens to participate in the program and by reaching out to food assistance programs, community leaders and elected officials to raise awareness and ensure families know about this resource in their neighborhoods. Our citywide network of 1,000 food assistance programs gives the Food Bank rare access to the communities most affected by the recession and the loss of free school meals. Your support makes our work with this network possible. Thank you!

Originally featured in Food For Thought Summer 2009, the Food Bank’s print newsletter.