Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has kicked-off the first-ever National Summer Food Service Program Week, an awareness campaign to promote USDA’s Summer Food Service Program and other initiatives across the country to feed low-income children during summer when school is out. USDA and its partners are working to redouble efforts to highlight the important nutrition benefits provided by the SFSP and other healthy meal options available for low-income children.

Secretary Vilsack says – when it comes to our children, we must do everything possible to provide them the nutrition needed to be healthy, active and ready to win the future. But, government cannot address this challenge alone. The Secretary says this is why, – we join our valued partners to raise awareness about the nutrition gap low-income children face when school is out of session. Working together, government, non-profit and faith-based organizations, as well as the public, can make sure children have access to nutritious food year round.

Today, at least 17 million children in the United States face a higher risk for hunger during the summer. Although more than 20 million children nationwide receive free and reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program during the regular school year, little more than 3 million kids are fed in summer meal programs.