A new report shows that 24,000 Vermont kids who qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year do not have access to the same meals during the summer.
The national report was released Wednesday by the Food Research and Action Center. It says that fewer than 5,000 of the 29,000 eligible children have access to the Federal Summer Food Service Program.
Karen Dolan is a nutrition program manager at the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger. She blames a lack of funding for the disparity.
Dolan says meal reimbursements designed for large urban areas and often don’t cover actual costs in rural areas.
Organization officials say the campaign is working with communities throughout the state to increase access to food for children in the summer.