Keep Kids Fed and Thriving This Summer with Summer BreakSpot

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

Join Us In Urging Florida Leaders to Participate in 2025 Summer EBT Program

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The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program (Summer EBT) has the potential to provide vital federal food assistance to over 2 million hungry children in Florida, totaling roughly $259 million next summer. Despite Florida’s decision not to participate in Summer EBT for 2024, there’s still an opportunity for the state to step up and administer the program next year. However, time is of the essence.
The deadline for Florida to inform the USDA of its intention to administer the 2025 Summer EBT program is August 15, 2024. We must act swiftly to ensure that Florida doesn’t miss this critical opportunity. Click Here to Act

Urgent: We have 24 hours to ensure the House Agriculture Committee votes NO on this dangerous proposal.

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This week the House Agriculture Committee will vote on a proposed Farm Bill, which includes changes to the Thrifty Food Plan that would ultimately cut SNAP and other nutrition programs and threaten future Summer EBT benefits.

We have 24 hours to ensure the House Agriculture Committee votes NO on this dangerous proposal.

Here are two things you can do to help TODAY:

1. Write to your Representatives: Click here to send a message directly to your reps in Congress urging them not to support this current Farm Bill proposal.

2. Share with your Networks: Please consider soliciting help from your friends and family by asking them to write to their representatives too. If you’re active on social media, you can also share this message on any of your platforms alongside the #ProtectSNAP image at the top.

Help Speak Up For Kids! 🙌 Now is the time to #ProtectSNAP. This week Congress will consider a #FarmBill proposal that would cut the SNAP program and harm families and kids. Join me and @NoKidHungry by writing to your representatives in Congress and urge them to vote NO on a Farm Bill that cuts SNAP. http://bit.ly/3WMF2sG

#ProtectSNAP

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

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Recess Action to Get the Improved CTC Passed

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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.