Keep Kids Fed and Thriving This Summer with Summer BreakSpot

When school lets out, many Florida children lose access to the healthy meals they rely on during the school year. Summer BreakSpot is here to ensure no child goes hungry. This statewide program provides free, nutritious meals to children and teens under 18 all summer long — no application, no ID, and no registration required. Meals are available at convenient locations like schools, parks, libraries, and community centers.

Summer BreakSpot does more than just fill empty stomachs. It helps kids stay active, healthy, and ready to learn when school starts again. For parents and caregivers, it’s a critical support during the summer months when household food budgets are often stretched thin. Access to free meals means families don’t have to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table.

Finding a Summer BreakSpot is easy — just visit Summer BreakSpot Food Service Program – Florida kids count on Summer BreakSpot for meals when school is out. to locate a site near you. The website is mobile-friendly and allows you to search by zip code to find nearby meal locations and schedules.

If you’re an organization hosting a summer program for youth and need help providing meals, we can assist you. Our team can help connect you with a local Summer BreakSpot sponsor so your program participants can receive free meals throughout the summer. Nutritious food supports better participation, learning, and engagement — and we’re here to make it easy for your program to be part of this important effort.

Together, we can make sure every child in Florida has the food they need to grow, learn, and enjoy their summer. Spread the word and reach out to us if you’d like support becoming a meal site.

Protect Florida Families from Harmful Federal Cuts

Congress is considering the most drastic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in our nation’s history — and Florida stands to lose the most. The proposed House reconciliation bill includes $723 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade, stripping $16 billion from Florida alone. SNAP changes could force 423,000 Floridians off food assistance and shift $1.6 billion in costs to the state starting in 2028. For the first time ever, Florida would be required to pay up to 25% of SNAP benefits — a sharp increase from the current 0%. These cuts would devastate working families, destabilize our economy, and force Florida to make impossible budget choices.

The stakes are enormous. Over 4 million Floridians rely on Medicaid, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Nearly 3 million depend on SNAP to put food on the table — 41% of whom are children and 25% seniors. Low-wage workers, rural communities, and 120,000 low-income seniors (the highest number in any state) would lose vital coverage and support. Florida is already facing a $2.8 billion deficit in FY 2026–27 — ballooning to $6.9 billion the following year. These federal cuts would only deepen the crisis, forcing the state to raise billions in new revenue or slash essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

This isn’t just a policy issue — it’s a human one. Without SNAP, families go hungry, and the burden falls on already overstretched food banks. Right now, SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal offered by a food bank. We simply cannot fill the gap. Florida could lose nearly 45,000 jobs and more than $4.5 billion in GDP. These cuts would mean less care, less food, and more hardship for those who can least afford it.

Take Action Today:
We must raise our voices now. Call your members of Congress and tell them Florida cannot absorb these devastating cuts. Share this alert with your networks and help us protect critical lifelines for millions. Together, we can stand up for Florida families and defend the services that keep our communities healthy, fed, and strong. If you need support in advocating for this cause please contact us  here at Florida Impact.

  • Click here for a link to the recording on YouTube
  • Click here to access the letter signed by 77 organizations urging Florida’s U.S. Senate delegation to reject cuts to health care and food assistance

Urge Your Senators to Support School Meals

Earlier this month, FRAC’s Interim President Crystal FitzSimons testified at a hearing held by the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition. The hearing was entitled, “Keeping Kids Learning in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program”.

FRAC’s testimony focused on the critical role the school nutrition programs play in supporting student nutrition, health, and learning, as well as the following legislation Senators can co-sponsor to strengthen and expand the programs.

The Universal School Meals Programs Act (S.1568) would make Healthy School Meals for All nationwide.
The School Hunger Elimination Act (S.4525) would increase federal funding for community eligibility schools, create a statewide community eligibility option, improve direct certification, and provide retroactive reimbursement for meals served to children who are certified for free or reduced price meals later in the school year.

The Nutrition Red Tape Reduction Act (S.4523) would put into statute the 25 percent Identified Student Percentage threshold for schools to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision.

Please take a moment to email your Senators and urge them to follow up on the hearing by adding their names to important child nutrition bills that will ensure students are hunger-free. You can use the FRAC Action Network to easily send a pre-populated email, or craft your own, and directly reach your Senators.

Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month a time when organizations and dedicated individuals across the country emphasize the importance of ending hunger by taking action. The calendar below has different things that you can do to help raise awareness about food insecurity. To help support our anti- hunger efforts you can donate at www.floridaimpact.org.

Check out our calendar to participate in these activities.

  • Bring your family or friends together to do the SNAP Challenge
  • Donate to an anti- hunger organization
  • Prepare a meal for a senior in your neighborhood
  • Donate your non perishable goods to a local collage/ university
  • Send a letter to your local legislators advocating for the Farm Bill. Letter to Congressional Leaders in Support of a Resilient, Equitable, and Sustainable 2024 Farm Bill (google.com)
  • Volunteer at your local food bank/ pantry
  • Host a food recovery drive at your local church or community center
  • Read “ Saturday at the Food Pantry” by Diane O’ Neill and “Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt & Vin Vogel to children at your local library.

Urge Your Senators to Pass Improvements to the Child Tax Credit

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024) is scheduled to be voted on by the Senate this Thursday afternoon. This legislation includes important Child Tax Credit (CTC) improvements that would improve food security and lift families with children out of poverty. The House overwhelmingly passed the bill (357–70) back in January.

It is essential that the Senate seize this opportunity to pass legislation that would support children in families struggling to put food on the table. The bill includes improvements to the CTC that would benefit nearly 16 million out of the 19 million children currently left out of the full or any CTC and lift 400,000 children out of poverty within the first year alone.

Now that this overwhelmingly popular, bipartisan bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate: Senators must vote “yea” on both the procedural vote (“cloture”) and final passage. Hungry children cannot wait.

Take Action Now

  • Use the FRAC Action Networkto immediately send an email to your Senators urging them to vote “yea” on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024).
  • Share this FRAC leave-behind with your Senators and others on why the CTC must be expanded to address poverty and hunger.

Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry NEXT Summer.

Did you know that over 2 million children in Florida could benefit from the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program? This federal initiative ensures that children who rely on school lunches continue to receive nutritious meals throughout the summer.

During the recent legislative session, Florida Impact and dedicated advocates like you urged lawmakers to authorize and fund the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to apply for the 2025 Summer EBT. The clock is ticking, and Florida has until August 15, 2024, to submit its intent to administer this vital program.

We need your help to ensure that the Florida DCF seizes this crucial opportunity. Please take a moment to send an email to DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris, urging her to take the necessary steps to provide meals for hungry Florida children next summer. To support us in our efforts, follow this link to send your letter to the DCF: https://action.splcenter.org/a/feed-fl.
Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for your support.

Take Action Now: Join Us in Urging Florida Leaders to Participate in 2025 Summer EBT Program!

Recess Action to Get the Improved CTC Passed

Urge your Senators, while they are home for the next two weeks, to pass the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act and reject any amendments that could limit the impact of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for families struggling to put food on the table.

Resources: national anti-hunger organization letter; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ new resource on young children and data on the impact on low-income households in your state; and FRAC’s research brief on expanded CTC and hunger.

URGENT Action Alert – Expand the Child Tax Credit NOW

The below is the latest Action Alert from the Food Research Center. The article illustrates how movement in our government can help so many families in low income households get food on the table. But they need your help!

“Yesterday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) announced a bipartisan, bicameral tax proposal. This proposal includes improvements to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) that would help 16 million children in households with low income put food on the table and lift hundreds of thousands of children and their families above the poverty line. Your advocacy is needed now to ensure that key components of the CTC remain intact on the road to passage and that Congress moves swiftly. That makes contacting your Members of Congress especially essential right now.

Nineteen million children are currently left out of receiving the full or any CTC. Under the latest proposal, more than 80 percent of these children would benefit, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The announced proposal includes key improvements that are essential to supporting families with children, though it falls short of the comprehensive improvements that were made through the American Rescue Plan Act 2021 CTC expansion.

Use the FRAC Action Network to send a clear and targeted message to your Members of Congress that the tax package must continue to be centered on the 19 million children currently left out of the full refundable child tax credit or any credit. See FRAC’s statement on the proposal.

Families are struggling to pay for food, rent, child care, and other household expenses, while food insecurity and hunger rates continue to soar. The expanded 2021 Child Tax Credit helped millions of families put food on the table and dramatically lifted them out of food insecurity and poverty. With its expiration, hunger and poverty rates among households with children nearly doubled.

Congress must use this opportunity to help eradicate hunger. Call and urge your Members of Congress to stand up and make the right policy choice—the one that will improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of millions of children—and speak out and support the final tax package that includes an expanded CTC that supports families who have been left behind.”

  • State fact sheets: here
  • FRAC Research Brief: here

Rep. Mullin Leads National Coalition to Introduce Legislation to Modernize the Federal Poverty Line

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15) introduced the Poverty Line Act with support from fellow lawmakers and more than 40 organizations from across the country to modernize the way the federal poverty line (FPL) is calculated, which has not been updated in nearly 60 years.

The current method for calculating poverty line is out of step with what working families actually spend on housing, childcare, and healthcare, nor does it account for regional differences. This means that millions of struggling families make too little to afford their basic needs, yet because the federal poverty line is so low, they are not eligible for safety net benefits.

The Poverty Line Act would update the way the Federal government calculates the federal poverty line by accounting for real costs and adjusting for regional differences. This would make millions of more families eligible for safety net programs, including Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), LIHEAP, and many more.

“Since the 1960’s we have gone into space, developed electric vehicles and no longer rely on landlines for our phone service. It’s long past time that we bring the federal poverty line into the 21st Century as well,” Mullin said. “With the holiday season upon us, non-profits hold food drives and toy drives to provide assistance, yet there are important federal programs that should be within reach for households who need assistance. Unfortunately, working families make too little to afford their basic needs, including housing, food, utilities, and more, yet because the federal poverty line is so low, they are not eligible for safety net benefits. It’s time for Congress to take action to address this critical national issue.”

The federal poverty line calculation has not been adjusted since the Johnson Administration, and consequently does not accurately reflect what it takes for a household to meet their basic needs regardless of where that household is located. The current poverty line calculation is tied a household’s food budget in the 1960s and adjusted for inflation. While significant, for most modern American households the cost of food has decreased as a share of expenses relative to other costs like housing, utilities, and more. There have also been numerous task forces created to study this problem over the past several decades, and the statistical measurement of poverty in the U.S. has changed periodically based on the findings of these studies. However, Congress has yet to take action to update the poverty line when it comes to eligibility for programs.

The Poverty Line Act has been endorsed by more than 40 organizations, including Children’s Defense Fund, Feeding America, Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, and United Way Worldwide, as well a range of state-based groups from across the U.S., including in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Texas. The full list of endorsements is below.

Specifically, the Poverty Line Act would:

  • Replace the outdated federal poverty line so that, for the first time, it is regionally adjusted and more accurately reflects the cost of living, including housing, food, clothing, phone, internet, health care, and, for families with children, child care costs;
  • Prevent any individual from losing eligibility for a program based on the new calculation methodology if they were eligible under the old one;
  • Ensure the poverty line is no lower than it is today anywhere in the country;
  • Require the Office of Management and Budget to report to Congress on how federal law should be updated to reflect the new calculation where, for example, program eligibility is based on a percentage of the old poverty line; and
  • Ensure that the new methodology is reviewed at least once every four years to determine whether it is still reflective of what households need to meet their basic needs and to identify additional changes needed in the future.

A range of national and state-based organizations have made statements in support of the Poverty Line Act:

“The way America calculates poverty was originally developed in the 1960s, and for decades, the federal poverty line has not kept up with the rapid cost of living increases we continue to experience,” said Children’s Defense FundPresident and Chief Executive Officer Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson. “Too many children and youth lack basic resources because their family’s income is just above America’s current poverty line. That is why Congress must pass the Poverty Line Act. It should be our leaders’ goal to prioritize the well-being of all young people in America, and that must include stability and economic mobility for families. This legislation would give our nation’s young people a chance to live with what they deserve: dignity, hope, and joy.”

“United Way Worldwide is proud to support the Poverty Line Act,” said Angela F. Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide. “Every day the working poor struggle to maintain access to basic needs like housing, food, and utilities. Too often individuals are forced to make the difficult decision of whether to pay electric bills, buy groceries, or pick up medication. This bill helps to ensure people, especially working families who are struggling, have access to critical programs that provide the necessary short- and long-term support and stability they need. We are pleased to join Rep. Mullin and many others in this effort to modernize the formula for calculating the federal poverty line. This important policy solution complements United Way Worldwide’s efforts such as providing tax help, supporting 211 – the nation’s go-to three-digit line providing help to millions of people, and strengthening education, health, and economic mobility across 95% of communities in the U.S. to ensure that all people thrive.”

Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus Campaign for Children, said, “Nearly 9 million children are currently living in poverty in the United States, one of the richest countries in the world. Tens of millions more experience significant material hardship even though their family income sits above the poverty line. Federal poverty guidelines have fallen behind reality and leave too many families struggling to keep food on the table, warm their homes, access health care and otherwise keep their children safe and secure. We applaud Rep. Mullin and the other cosponsors for their leadership in introducing the Federal Poverty Line Act, which would align federal poverty guidelines with our children’s actual needs, so that they not only survive, but thrive.”

“Millions of people make too little to make ends meet in today’s economy,” said Audra Wilson, President and CEO of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. “Rising costs for housing and food hold back working families from meeting basic needs, let alone getting ahead. That’s why we support Congressman Mullin’s efforts to update federal poverty guidelines and increase access to critical benefits and safety net programs. A future where everyone can thrive is a future worth fighting for.”

“The federal poverty measure has been outdated for decades, preventing many needy families from accessing critical benefits,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. “Food banks witness this regularly when people unable to meet basic needs show up in our lines, but do not qualify for federal assistance programs like SNAP. As the cost of essentials like housing, healthcare, and food continue to increase, we need a formula that more accurately captures the true cost of living in the U.S. and takes into account regional differences. Every person deserves to live with dignity, be able to put food on the table and pay the rent, and save for a better future — updating the federal poverty measure is a step in the right direction.”

“Florida Impact supports Rep. Mullin’s Poverty Line Act,” said Kim M. Johnson, President and CEO of Florida Impact to End Hunger. “Expanding the FPL is not just a policy change, it’s a deep commitment to helping families move beyond poverty. In our efforts to assist individuals in accessing federal nutrition programs statewide, we witness the daily struggles of hardworking people striving to provide for their families. It’s disheartening that individuals are forced to make hard choices between essentials such as food, rent, and medicine. No one should have to make that choice. By recognizing the true extent of financial struggles that many face, we are taking important steps to ensure that families on the margins receive the support they need.”

“The Poverty Line Act will help millions of Americans by increasing access to basic needs such as food, housing and health care. The community members Peninsula Family Service supports will greatly benefit from this Act as they strive to lead healthy, stable lives,” said Heather Cleary, Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Family Service in San Mateo, California.

“The current federal poverty limit doesn’t take into account cost of living data, which makes it seem that places like Silicon Valley have very little need when, in fact, the number of people in the region who are struggling to make ends meet is very high,” said Leslie Bacho, CEO of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. “Second Harvest of Silicon Valley provides food to 500,000 people every month — the equivalent of 1 in 6 people in our two counties. The adjustment to include cost-of-living data in the federal poverty limit would provide greater access to vital government benefits for our community’s residents and would bring more understanding and awareness about the level of need in our community.”

“Samaritan House works every day to fight poverty in San Mateo County, and we know this is not just a local issue, but an issue nationwide,” said Laura Bent, Chief Executive Officer of Samaritan House in San Mateo, California.“Modernizing the formula that is used to calculate the national poverty level would make a huge difference in the lives of our clients and we are grateful that Congressman Mullin is addressing this issue at the national level.”

The Poverty Line Act is co-sponsored by Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At large), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

The bill has been endorsed by (in alphabetical order): Alliance for a Just Society, California Association of Food Banks, Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee, Child Welfare League of America, Children’s Defense Fund, Community Change Action, Covenant House International and Covenant House California, Economic Security Project Action, End Child Poverty in California (GRACE), End Poverty in California, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Feeding America, Feeding Texas, First Focus Campaign for Children, Florida Impact to End Hunger, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy (The New School), Liberation in a Generation, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association for State Community Services Programs, National Association of Social Workers, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Education Association, National Employment Law Project , National Network for Youth, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Peninsula Family Service, PolicyLink, Samaritan House, SchoolHouse Connection, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Food Bank, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Sojourners-SojoAction, Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, Tennessee Justice Center, UnidosUS, United Way Worldwide, and Western Center on Law & Poverty.

A copy of the bill text can be found here.

December 6, 2023

Media Contact:

(DO) Susan Kennedy (650) 288-2019 or Susan.Kennedy@mail.house.gov

(DC) Luisa Gunn (202) 704-5030 or Luisa.Gunn@mail.house.gov