At the end of May, Samantha Figueroa, food operations manager for Caroline County Public Schools in Maryland, prepared for a busy summer, planning to distribute free food to children at 24 sites, up from nine during the school year. The increase is due to a policy change by Congress allowing non-congregate meal distribution in rural areas, making it easier to reach food-insecure households.
This policy shift, driven by Senators Debbie Stabenow and John Boozman, removes the requirement for children to eat meals on-site, addressing challenges in rural areas where transportation is limited. The new approach builds on the success of pandemic-era waivers that permitted schools to deliver meals to students’ homes, showcasing the benefits of non-congregate meal service.
Implementing these programs is complex, involving logistics such as finding children in need, preparing and delivering meals, and adhering to USDA regulations. Despite these challenges, the new policy is seen as a historic step toward reducing child hunger, providing flexibility for schools and nonprofits to reach more children during the summer months.
In Florida, programs like Summer EBT, rebranded as “Sun Bucks,” offer additional grocery funds to low-income families, complementing the non-congregate meal service. Advocates emphasize the importance of these changes in providing consistent nutrition to children when school is out, with ongoing efforts to ensure these policies become permanent solutions to child hunger.
