School holidays and summer break can be a joyous time for some students – free days for video games, sports, and relaxing. But for others, having no access to meals can leave them food insecure for months.
According to Feeding America, 22 million children in the United States experience summer hunger each year. Many of these children rely on nutrition programs through their schools during the school year, leaving them without reliable access to food for up to three months during the summer break.
Food insecurity is a longstanding issue that affects people all over the world. Business planners at schools need to be conscious of the challenges students and parents face and all the ways they rely on the school for their needs. Parent surveys, meetings with teachers and faculty, and interfacing with students themselves to discuss their needs are all excellent ways business planners at schools can cultivate programs and plan accordingly.
"School breaks may negatively affect students who depend on lunch stipends and housing."
Below are some suggestions for stifling food insecurity on campus:
- Summer Meals: Establishing a summer meal program for students during summer break is much easier to implement than some school officials believe. The program can operate similarly to existing school lunch and breakfast programs, with schools receiving federal reimbursement for eligible foods. Variations include mobile food trucks and partnerships with food banks. Click here to see an agency in your area: https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/agencies
- School Food Bank: A successful food bank at school looks like a dedicated space specifically to provide relief to hungry students and staff. The school would stock shelf-stable foods, fruits, and vegetables to help students confidentially receive necessary food. The pantry is accessible to eligible students, faculty, and staff during the school year, and food is provided at no charge. Schools can receive this food from food drives, local partnerships with grocery stores and markets, or through stipends.
- Additional Options for Families: Another key strategy for addressing food insecurity is providing financial assistance to low-income individuals and families to help them buy food. School staff, with a keen eye and an interest in their student body, should be ready to recommend these alternative options to parents who need them. Here are two commonly used federal programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provide money to eligible participants to purchase food only:
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) is generally called by its acronym SNAP and sometimes referred to as EBT, which refers to Electronic Benefits Transfer.
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is generally referred to as WIC.
While these options provide potential solutions, there can be insurance considerations to consider. Before recommending solutions to parents or implementing them at the district level, it is always a best practice to discuss proposed solutions with your insurance consulting team. At Keenan, we collaborate with several subject matter experts in school districts and can provide valuable insight and key solutions to keeping your school running smoothly.
To read more about issues impacting schools and businesses and how our insurance expertise can benefit your organization, visit Keenan.com or contact a member of your account team.