Summer Food Service Program Meal Participation in Maryland Increased during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides meals to children during out-of-school time, such as emergency school closures. This study assessed the trends in participation and operations of Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors in Maryland from 2016 to 2020 and evaluated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2020. The total number of summer meals served significantly increased from approximately 3 million meals in 2019 to over 9.5 million meals in 2020. The number of breakfasts, lunches, and operating days also significantly increased from 2019 to 2020, but there was no significant change in the number of sites.