Popularity of USDA’s Meal Delivery Program Growing Exponentially

WASHINGTON, DC – Based upon the success of a pilot program last summer, USDA is announcing the expansion of the Meals to You program nationwide. The program is a public-private partnership between USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLane Global, and PepsiCo. Originally the aim was to deliver one million meals per week to students eligible for free and reduced-price meals in a limited number of rural school districts. That goal, however, was quickly surpassed as nearly 3.5 million meals have been mailed to the homes of children in 12 states. Now, the partnership is now quickly ramping up to serve five million meals weekly to help meet growing demand. Meals to You boxes contain 20 nutritious meals – 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches – to cover the meals children would normally receive at school over two school weeks. Foods contained in the boxes may include milk, fruit cups, cereal, whole-grain crackers, and chili. Boxes are delivered directly to children’s doorsteps via the U.S. Postal Service and other delivery services.