Hoyer Meets with Partners, Students Participating in the Summer Food Service Program

Press Release

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) today attended events highlighting the Summer Food Service Program in Charles County, MD. Before attending a briefing by partners on the collaborative program in Charles County, Hoyer met with children served by a mobile unit which delivers meals to a number of Summer Food Service Program sites in the county. He then traveled to Somers Middle School where he ate lunch with students participating in the program.

"Access to nutritious meals is critical to a child's ability to learn and live a healthy life," said Rep. Hoyer. "The wealthiest nation in the world should not send its children to bed hungry, so making sure they have the food they need must be a top priority. The Summer Food Service Program helps fill the gap when students are not in school, providing meals to the many children that would otherwise go hungry in Maryland and throughout our nation. We must continue to do all we can to assist Maryland families and promote and expand this critical program."

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a USDA program that provides meals to children during the summer months. This program offers children from low-income families and neighborhoods a nutritious lunch during the summer. Many of the children who participate are those that receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year.

While Maryland had the 2nd highest increase in summer nutrition program participation from 2008 to 2009, there is still much more to be done. According to the Maryland State Department of Education, statewide, only 1 in 4 students eligible for the program uses its services during the summer months. In Charles County, that number drops to only 1 in 10. One of the issues Congressman Hoyer heard about today is how transportation problems during the summer place a hurdle between availability of services and eligible students. Providing a means for students to access these services is critical to ensuring that children who need meals the most are able to get them.

This week, the House Education and Labor Committee plans to mark up the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act. This legislation would make it easier for private organizations to sponsor summer food service programs throughout Maryland, and would provide incentives to public agencies and private non-profit organizations to expand their existing programs and address some of the challenges that remain, including resources to organizations that can provide accessibility through mobile sites.

For more information on the Summer Food Service Program, visit www.mdsummermeals.org or contact the School and Community Nutrition Branch at 410-767-0214. Parents and caregivers can find a local meal site in their community by calling the toll-free hotline at 877-731-9300 or visiting www.nokidhungrymd.org.

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