The Heckscher Foundation for Children

Summer Food

The New York City Department of Education's Summer Meals Program is intended to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students, but it has historically served many fewer students than during the regular school year, despite universal eligibility. Initiated and funded by the Heckscher Foundation, the Summer Meals Outreach project began in early 2006 to raise awareness and participation.  The results have been impressive. During the first summer, the program saw a 30.82% increase in participation at all NYC Department of Parks and Recreation pools and parks and a 19.76% increase at refrigerated pool sites.  In summer 2007, citywide participation went up dramatically again --- 9% in breakfast and 5% in lunch, which translates into nearly 420,000 new healthy meals served to needy children.  The Heckscher grant funded materials such as refrigeration units, posters and multi-language flyers, as well as advertisements and creative outreach that led to key partnerships with NYCHA, the Parks Department, Brooklyn and Queens public libraries and soup kitchens.  The Office of School Food is now well positioned to build on these partnerships to maintain and increase participation in coming years.