Why ending childhood hunger is a business imperative

"While summer conjures images of vacations and play for many children, it can be a time of increased hunger and skipped meals for families working hard to make ends meet. When schools close, so do their cafeterias, meal programs, and pantries, resulting in more than 20 million kids losing their most reliable source of daily nutrition. And with rising food costs and a worsening job market, parents are finding it harder than ever to put nutritious meals on the table."

"Studies confirm that children experiencing food insecurity are sick more often, hospitalized more frequently, and may face developmental deficiencies that alter the architecture of their brains. They may also struggle to concentrate in classrooms, with 83% of parents surveyed by No Kid Hungry saying their children can't focus when hungry, and 88% reporting that school meals directly improve learning."

Millions of children regain consistent access to food when school resumes, enabling concentration, participation, and success. Summer months increase hunger and skipped meals for families working hard to make ends meet. School closures shut cafeterias, meal programs, and pantries, causing more than 20 million kids to lose reliable daily nutrition. Rising food costs and a worsening job market make nutritious meals harder to afford. More than one in three parents worried about running out of food this summer; 70% said inflation made groceries harder to afford; nearly two in three expect food costs to keep rising. Hunger links to illness, developmental deficits, impaired focus, and reduced learning outcomes.

Read at Fast Company