On the recordJune 20, 2012
for many Ohio children, schools have let out for the year, and summer vacation is just beginning. During the school year, in my State--a State of about 11 million people--840,000 Ohio children receive some nutrition assistance through free or reduced-price school lunches or breakfasts during the school year. It is a statistic that tells the story of families struggling to get by. In many of these children's cases their parents have jobs but simply are not making enough money. It is a statistic that tells a story of how children are often helpless victims in a challenging economy. Many of these children come from the 18 percent of Ohio families--about 1 out of 6--who are food insecure. Essentially it means they are unsure where their next meal may actually come from. When the school year comes to a close, many of these children go hungry. Where can these 840,000 students go? Where do they turn for nutritious meals when their school cafeterias are closed for the summer? The answer is the Summer Food Service Program run through the U.S. Department of Education and administered in my State by the Ohio Department of Education. For Ohio parents and guardians and school administrators, the Summer Food Service Program is available for them to find healthy meals for children during the summer.…





