biostudies-literatureUnknown92(5)Lu SV<h4>Background</h4>The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free and nutritious meals to children under age 18 during out-of-school times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland sponsors served over 9.5 million meals to children through an expanded version of the SFSP. This study aimed to explore and compare the factors that enabled 2 SFSP sponsors in Maryland to dramatically increase meals distribution during the pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>Sponsors were selected based on their responses in the larger study and demographic characteristics of the area in which they served. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted over Zoom-4 interviews with Sponsor A (3 interviews with the sponsor, 1 interview with their vendor) and 1 interview with Sponsor B. Qualitative data were analyzed inductively and deductively. Participation data from 2019 and 2020 were obtained from the Maryland State Department of Education and analyzed.<h4>Results</h4>Despite their differences in organization type and geographic region, they identified similar facilitators to their success-communication with the community and utilization of the United States Department of Agriculture-issued waivers.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Strengthening community communication networks and permanently integrating more flexibility into regulation of the SFSP may increase meals participation during future out-of-school times.The Journal of school health429-435https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9115166biostudies-literatureServing Summer Meals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of 2 Summer Food Service Program Sponsors in Maryland.PMC9115166Harper KMGross JGross SMMedina-Perez KLu SVWilson MJfalseServing Summer Meals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of 2 Summer Food Service Program Sponsors in Maryland.<h4>Background</h4>The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free and nutritious meals to children under age 18 during out-of-school times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland sponsors served over 9.5 million meals to children through an expanded version of the SFSP. This study aimed to explore and compare the factors that enabled 2 SFSP sponsors in Maryland to dramatically increase meals distribution during the pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>Sponsors were selected based on their responses in the larger study and demographic characteristics of the area in which they served. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted over Zoom-4 interviews with Sponsor A (3 interviews with the sponsor, 1 interview with their vendor) and 1 interview with Sponsor B. Qualitative data were analyzed inductively and deductively. Participation data from 2019 and 2020 were obtained from the Maryland State Department of Education and analyzed.<h4>Results</h4>Despite their differences in organization type and geographic region, they identified similar facilitators to their success-communication with the community and utilization of the United States Department of Agriculture-issued waivers.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Strengthening community communication networks and permanently integrating more flexibility into regulation of the SFSP may increase meals participation during future out-of-school times.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 May2025-04-04T07:34:46.461Z2025-02-19T00:47:25.679ZS-EPMC91151663525322710.1111/josh.13145