Summer Meals for Children 2004: A Failing Grade for New York City
( The Report in PDF Format)

This report describes the federal summer meals program, a free "entitlement" program that is available to provide nutritious food to children during the summer months. Unfortunately, the program has failed to reach the vast majority of New York City children. This report focuses on the summer of 2004, during which participation in summer meals reached its lowest point in more than a decade. During 2004, the Department of Education had 138 fewer school sites serving breakfast and lunch than in 2003. Consequently, 24,000 fewer children in New York City received the nutritional benefits of these daily meals. Our aim is to prevent a repeat disaster in 2005.