New research by No Kid Hungry (see full report) reveals an overwhelming number of parents are struggling to put food on the table for their kids. This is especially true during the summer months when kids lose access to many essential free and reduced meals. Survey responses from more than 1,200 parents reveal that the return to school is a relief for those struggling to make ends meet and an essential tool for kids to thrive in school.
40% of Parents Worry Food Will Run Out Before the End of the Month
Carol, a mother of five in Colorado, described her family’s situation: “Making ends meet is the biggest challenge right now. We both work with five kids in the house. It’s just a stretch every month to meet everybody’s needs.” She said the rising cost of groceries has forced her family to make hard choices. Some weeks, they “barely scrape things together to make a meal.”
Carol wasn’t alone. 70% of parents cited inflation and rising food prices as their primary financial concern, and 55% reported difficulty purchasing their usual food supplies. As prices continue to increase, the income of many is not keeping up. 4 out of 10 parents reported a worsened financial situation compared to last year, and more than 1 in 4 lost their job.
A father in Georgia talked about these challenges, “It feels like no matter how much you earn, nothing kind of remains. It's living paycheck by paycheck. When you are on a tight budget, a meal from a school helps you pass through that difficult phase.”
School meals provide more than relief; they are lifelines for many families. “There’s not as much stress on the finances,” Carol shared. “We’re better able to live our lives because we’re in these programs.”
88% of Parents Say School Meals Help Their Children Do Better in School
For years, No Kid Hungry has said that food is the most important school supply. And the findings confirm this statement. 83% of parents agree that kids struggle to concentrate when they are hungry. These meals are also an important factor in increasing school attendance. 3 out of 5 parents reported that school meals motivated their kids to attend school regularly.
In the words of Shameka, a mom in North Carolina: “When they’re hungry, they’re not very focused. They’re irritated. There’s more arguing. I notice it becomes a very tense environment. They don’t want to do anything, ‘I just want to know what I'm eating next.’ And that’s all they can think about. Once they’ve had a nice lunch, they’re good, everybody’s happy. They’re coming to ask questions. Their mind is more open to things. They’re not blurred from hunger.”
Almost 90% of Parents Find School Lunch to Be a Valuable Program
The benefits of school meals reach far beyond the cafeteria. For parents, knowing lunch is covered means less worry and more breathing room in the budget.
That value shows up in homes across the country, including Maurice’s, where school meals provide relief that reaches far beyond the lunch table. He is very involved in his fifth-grade daughter’s life, from homework to dance class. But when school is out, high food costs strain the family budget. The return of free school meals each fall brings much-needed breathing room.
“When she goes back to school and they provide free lunch and breakfast, that money can be used for something else,” he shared. “It takes a strain off of us.”
Some surprising findings of the survey were that investing in kids’ meals has a positive effect on the community as a whole. Just as full stomachs lead to better learning and social connection for kids, less strain on parents leads to stronger families, and stronger families lead to thriving communities. Parents can more easily attend school events, volunteer and support local activities.
While nearly half of parents believe the stress they feel interferes with their parenting, even more – 2 in 3 – report that school meals help reduce it. Federal nutrition programs like school meals provide relief from feelings of guilt and depression that parents experience when they have difficulty providing meals for their kids.
What This Means For Our Work
We know 1 in 5 kids in America continues to live with hunger. The survey provides valuable insight into the struggles, fears and hopes of parents during the back-to-school season. And with the current high cost of living and future economic uncertainty, many parents are struggling. The data and stories of Maurice, Carol and Shameka - and over 1,200 parents like them - show that this issue is more pressing than ever for our country.
The numbers also reaffirm what we already know: federal nutrition programs are essential to healthy kids and happy families. These programs work to end childhood hunger, and their benefits extend far beyond just meals. School meals motivate kids to attend school, and once they are there, they are more engaged and ready to learn. They also provide breathing room for the finances of parents. They can pay other bills and even save for their kids’ futures. When kids are fed, parents are more likely to be involved in the community. We knew we were ending childhood hunger, but we learned that we are doing much more than that.
No Kid Hungry is working with schools and communities across the country to ensure they have the resources and funds needed to strengthen school meal programs, thereby feeding as many students as possible. Last school year, No Kid Hungry’s partners served more than 374 million meals to kids and families nationwide.
As families face an uncertain economic future with impending cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, school meals play a critical role for kids. We need your support more than ever to ensure kids and families can thrive.
Ways You Can Help
- Donate: $1 can help provide 10 meals* for kids. Your support will help us fund meal programs all over the country and help us advocate for policies that will help kids get the meals they need. *Donations help support programs that feed kids; No Kid Hungry does not provide individual meals. Meal equivalencies vary. Learn more at NoKidHungry.org/OneDollar.
