Nine-fold Increase in Free Student Meals in 2020

KANSAS CITY, MO – USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) typically provides free meals to children in low-income areas during unanticipated school closures between October and April or when schools are not in session (ie spring and summer breaks).

According to the Economic Research Service, in fiscal year (FY) 2020, the program served a record of almost 1.3 billion meals, just under 9 times more than one year earlier.

Program participation typically peaks in July, but in 2020 the peak began in May and continued into September at a cost of $4.1 billion, compared to $475 million in 2019.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)