Each summer, students in low-income communities lose an estimated two to three months of reading skills, known as the “summer slide,” simply because they don’t have access to books. By the time they reach fifth grade, those summer learning gaps can add up to three full years of lost progress compared to their peers.

In addition, when school ends for the summer, many students lose access to daily meals and educational support. The Summer Feed and Read program fills these gaps.
Together with The Children’s Hunger Project, United Way Space Coast provides nutritious food and free books to children across Brevard County.

Meals are served at schools, parks, churches, and community centers. Each child receives books to take home and build their personal library, along with food they can bring home for the weekend.

This summer, United Way Space Coast and The Children’s Hunger Project are set to distribute about 10,000 healthy weekend meal packs and distribute about 9,000 books in just 10 weeks. This vital program is made possible by the generous support of United Way Space Coast donors, strengthening our community by addressing the critical needs of hunger and education.

By keeping kids well-fed, active, and learning, we help prevent summer learning loss and reduce hunger during a critical time of year.
This work is possible because of generous donors like you. Together, we’re creating a community where every child has the chance to grow, learn, and succeed.