Economic Impact of NC Summer Foods Program

<p>Maureen Berner is a School of Government faculty member</p> <p>Did you know that across North Carolina, only about 12 percent of eligible kids receive free summer meals via an existing federally funded Summer Foods Program? What kind of economic impact might occur with higher participation rates in the program? This post describes early findings from a School of Government evaluation of North Carolina’s Summer Foods Program and concludes that local economies could benefit from higher participation rates.</p> <p>The North Carolina Summer Foods Program, which operates in each community through a local school nutrition office or non-profit, serves as an extension of the free and reduced price breakfast and lunch program offered in schools during the school year.  The program was created to address concerns that children were not being fed properly when school was out of session over the summer.</p> <p>The Summer Foods Program distributes food throughout a community—not just in schools—giving children the opportunity to obtain the food almost anywhere, from neighborhood gathering places to school lunch rooms.   The local sponsors are then reimbursed for every meal or snack eaten by a child (up to two a day).   In areas around schools with over 50 percent participation rate in the free and reduced price program, all children in the area are eligible. In such areas, no ID is required and no paperwork needed for the children.  The kids, from birth to 18 years old, just need to show up and eat a healthy meal.  The administrators have to keep a count and make sure health and safety [...]</p>