As communities continue to respond to COVID-19, one thing is increasingly clear: the hours that children are “out of school” have been increasing, and afterschool suppers and snacks alongside afterschool programs are becoming more essential than ever. 

The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)’s latest report “Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot of Participation”, finds that over 1.4 million children received a supper through the Afterschool Nutrition Programs in October 2019, an increase of 6.5 percent, or 86,900 children, from October 2018. 

To ensure continued access to afterschool suppers and snacks during COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued flexibilities that allow the Afterschool Nutrition Programs to adapt to the new normal created by the pandemic.