Summer Break Food Delivery Support Campaign Launches: 'Let’s Deliver Meals to Children in Need During Summer Vacation'

For children in low-income households, school lunches are a crucial part of their daily nutrition. Summer vacation becomes an especially difficult time due to the absence of school meals and longer hours spent at home. Due to financial hardship, many children cannot use air conditioning even during extreme heat, increasing their risk of heatstroke.

Children living in homes without cooling endure scorching heat, growing hungrier and thinner each day. Others wait alone at home for their parents to return from work, with nowhere else to go. For these children, summer vacation is not just a time of rest—it is a painful period of over a month of unstable living conditions.

This year, we are launching a crowdfunding campaign to deliver food supplies to children in need during summer vacation. We sincerely ask for your strong support.

Crowdfunding Page: https://congrant.com/project/kidsdoor/23040

Campaign Period: Monday, June 15, 2026 – Friday, July 31, 2026

Summer Vacation Is Not Enjoyable for Low-Income Families

Last summer, we delivered food support via delivery to over 3,000 low-income families across Japan.

（Photo: Food support in 2025）

The absence of school meals means children cannot get adequate nutrition. Additionally, longer time spent at home in uncooled environments and the visible gap with peers enjoying trips and leisure activities create multiple challenges during summer break.

We have received many heartfelt messages from families who received food support, expressing gratitude while also revealing their harsh realities.

"The worry about rice has eased significantly, and I was finally able to buy side dishes."

"Knowing that someone cares for us made me feel that today, too, I can keep living with my child."

"Finding snacks in the box—snacks we usually have to avoid—my children’s joyful faces are unforgettable."

What Your Donation Will Achieve

All donations will be used exclusively for food support to children who face hunger during summer vacation when school meals are unavailable.

Delivering Food to Children in Need Across Japan

To compensate for the lack of school meals during summer break, we deliver food directly to homes. Including shipping costs, we estimate ¥8,000 per household for approximately 1,750 households, requiring a total of ¥14 million for this initiative.

（Photo: Food support in 2025）

※ Combined with other forms of support outside this crowdfunding campaign, we plan to deliver food aid to a total of 3,500 households this summer.

"Delivery" Ensures Food Reaches Families Reliably

"There’s no food pantry near my home."

"The operating hours are limited, so I can’t access it after work."

"I don’t want others to know I’m using support services."

These are common concerns expressed by families in need.

（Photo: Summer food support in 2025）

This summer’s food support will be delivered entirely by courier. Since families receive the food directly at home, they can almost certainly receive it without worrying about being seen by others.

Food Reaches Children Who Need Support

This food support is provided exclusively to households registered with Kidsdoor Family Support.

（Photo: Summer food support in 2025）

To use Family Support, families must register detailed information about their economic situation. Kidsdoor verifies household conditions to ensure food reaches children who truly need support.

Food Support Made Possible by "Private Donations"

Reaching children in households suffering just below the thresholds for public assistance—such as welfare or subsidies—is only possible through "private donations."

The ability to deliver urgent, timely support right now, during summer break, is a unique strength of private donations, which can respond to gaps where public support falls short.

The Hardships of Summer Vacation for Children (Based on Kidsdoor Survey)

Amid rising prices, especially for food, children in low-income households face increasingly difficult living conditions. Even under tight budgets, summer vacation intensifies these hardships.

70% of Households Spend "Around ¥10,000 per Person" on Monthly Food

For two-person households (one parent, one child), about 70% spend ¥20,000 or less per month on food—equivalent to roughly ¥10,000 per person.

Over 80% Say "Summer Vacation Is Harder Than Usual Life"

According to last year’s post-summer survey, over 80% of households experienced a more difficult summer compared to their regular lives during the school term.

Summer Living Expenses Increase by "Over ¥20,000"

About 70% of households reported at least a ¥20,000 increase in living expenses during summer break—equivalent to an entire month’s food budget for a two-person household.

"Without school, there’s no lunch, so food costs nearly double. I reduced my own meals to one per day to cope."

"Preparing meals was exhausting. I felt terrible making my children feel like a burden."

"This summer was tough due to high prices. We had rice and natto most days. I felt truly sorry for my children."

Source: 2025 Post-Summer Survey (conducted by Kidsdoor, September 2025)

60% of Households "Reduce Children’s Meals"

During summer, 58% of households further reduce meal portions, even for children, on top of already tight budgets. While most parents cut their own meals, it’s often not enough, forcing them to reduce children’s meals as well.

70% of Households "Don’t Use Air Conditioning Despite Heat"

68% of households did not use air conditioning due to financial constraints. With children already suffering from poor nutrition and weakened stamina, enduring another summer like this—amid forecasted extreme heat—is extremely dangerous.

"I could provide dinner, but sometimes couldn’t serve breakfast or lunch. I felt so guilty toward my child."

"We live in a public housing unit without AC, so my child was unwell throughout summer break."

"My first-year middle schooler, right after summer break started, couldn’t keep up with club activities due to malnutrition and heatstroke, missed practices repeatedly, fell behind peers, and eventually quit—truly heartbreaking."

"My child, trying not to burden me, often refused to turn on the AC, using only a fan. I feel terrible making them endure such hardship."

Source: 2025 Post-Summer Survey (2025