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Rural areas across the country are home to thousands of poor families who lack basic necessities and live far from social services. These areas are known as "poverty pockets." This report focuses on how the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) can be delivered in rural areas to help meet the nutritional needs of low-income children living there.
For most children, summer is a time for fun and games, but for many low-income children who rely upon the School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, summer is a time of scarce resources and hunger. SFSP can help fill the nutritional gap during the summer months. It was created by Congress in 1968 to provide nutritious meals to low-income children when school is not in session. Though millions of children are eligible for the program, only 16 percent of those who are eligible actually are covered. This low participation rate is attributable to two factors: the program is not offered in enough sites, and many low-income families are unaware of the program and do not realize that their children are eligible.
Serving children in rural areas presents a challenge to those running the SFSP. There are inherent difficulties with operating a program when children are isolated geographically. In rural areas, poverty can be difficult to see because it is often tucked away and "off the beaten path." Due to this isolation, it can be hard to identify which children are eligible for the program. In addition, since there typically are fewer children living in a rural area, it becomes more difficult and expensive to run a site. However, the children in these rural areas often are the ones in greatest need of free summer meals.
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