Perceived Benefits and Barriers to Free Summer Meal Participation Among Parents in New York City

Objective: To examine perceived benefits and barriers of summer meal participation among lower-income families who participate in school lunch programs during the year. Design: Semistructured phone interviews were conducted with parents of elementary-aged children, including both participants and nonparticipants in summer meals. Setting: Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn, NY. Participants: Participants were lower-income, racially/ethnically diverse parents of elementary-aged children. Of 20 participants, 17 were minorities (85%), 16 were women (80%), and 11 had an annual household income < $30,000 (55%). Phenomenon of Interest: Interviews explored parents' experiences with summer meals programs, the impact on food provisioning in the summer, and benefits and barriers. Analysis: Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. Results: Five themes emerged, including 3 benefits of summer meals: reducing stress for parents, fostering social support and connection, and the opportunity to develop healthier eating habits; and 2 barriers to participation: lack of cultural inclusivity and lack of widespread knowledge about summer meals. Conclusions and Implications: The main purpose of summer meals is to reduce food insecurity, but the programs also provide social and psychological benefits valued by lower-income families in New York, although participation barriers persist.