Hunger in the Summer

Abstract

This study examines the effects of summertime meals provided by the National School Lunch and Summer Food Service programs on households' food insecurity. The authors use seasonal differences in the survey schedule of the Current Population Survey Food Security supplement to overcome self-selection bias. From 1995 to 2001, the survey alternated between spring and summer. Seasonal differences—higher prevalence of food insecurity in the summer—were greater for households with school-age children than for other households. Among households with school-age children, seasonal differences were greater in states providing small numbers of Summer Food Service Program meals and summertime school lunches than in other states.