Amid Soaring Prices, Over 80% of Parents Report Financial Hardship; Katariba Launches 'Home Meal' Frozen Bento Delivery for Economically Disadvantaged Families This Summer

Certified Non-Profit Organization Katariba (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kumiko Imamura, hereinafter 'Katariba') will launch the 'Katariba Home Meal' program on July 15, 2026, to support the meals of parenting families facing economic hardship during the summer vacation when school lunches are unavailable. Katariba will also begin recruiting donation supporters for this initiative.

School lunches serve as essential infrastructure, guaranteeing children one reliable meal per day. However, during summer vacation, this single meal becomes uncertain, and with ongoing price hikes, the burden on economically disadvantaged families is growing even heavier.

A 2026 survey of 250 parents participating in Katariba's support programs revealed that over 80% responded they 'feel significant financial burden due to rising prices.' This summer, for the second consecutive year, Katariba will deliver one dependable meal to children through this program while calling for ongoing support from donors.

Over 80% of Parents Report 'Increased Financial Hardship' — Soaring Prices Worsen Summer Struggles Without School Lunches

The 2026 survey of 250 parents in Katariba's support programs revealed the following realities:

- Combined, 82% of parents reported their household finances had become 'significantly tighter' or 'somewhat tighter' over the past year. - 84.3% responded they 'feel significant burden' due to rising prices. - The most common source of anxiety during summer vacation was 'preparing lunch,' followed by 'increased expenses for food and utilities.'

Additionally, last year's survey found that approximately 40% of parents reported their child's daily meal frequency had 'decreased' compared to when school lunches were available. The top reason given was 'inability to afford sufficient ingredients or bento boxes due to financial constraints.'

Parents also shared the following concerns:

- 'I can't afford enough side dishes for bentos due to high prices. We often end up with just egg on rice, and I worry about nutritional balance. I don't eat lunch on weekdays, so I can't cut back further.' - 'We avoid using air conditioning to save on electricity, leading to heatstroke risks. We try to manage with umeboshi and water, but the recent heat is unbearable.' - 'Since parents are working, meals during the day are often neglected. We prepare meals in advance, but I worry about food poisoning risks.'

Most families receiving Katariba's support face economic hardship, with 61.4% of surveyed parents being single-parent households. Many parents bear multiple challenges alone, including food and utility costs, lunch preparation, and anxiety about children staying home alone during long holidays.

Launching 'Katariba Home Meal' to Deliver a Reliable Meal to Economically Disadvantaged Households

In response to these conditions, Katariba will implement the 'Katariba Home Meal' program, delivering frozen bento boxes to economically disadvantaged families during summer vacation—a reliable meal alternative to school lunches.

- 'Ready-to-heat meals are slightly expensive, straining our budget and forcing us to cut back on dinner. Receiving bentos allowed us to add an extra dish to dinner, giving us more time and mental relief. The menu seemed rich in vegetables and well-balanced; my child was delighted and said it was delicious.' - 'I usually cook every meal from scratch, but knowing the home meal is available gives me peace of mind—even if I fall ill, we'll be okay. On days when I'm overwhelmed juggling everything alone, the bento with proper vegetables and protein truly helped. It didn't just satisfy hunger; it eased my loneliness, and I was truly grateful.' - 'Exhausted from part-time work, I often quickly finish dinner with whatever is at home, worrying about nutrition and feeling guilty toward my child. Receiving nutritious and delicious bentos reduced that guilt. My heart gained some peace, and I think that positively affected my child. The anxiety about 'what to do during summer break' was far less than in previous years.'

These are voices from parents who participated last year.

Because Katariba maintains ongoing connections with children and families, it can continue supporting them through meals during summer vacation, preventing isolation.

This support will be delivered nationwide to participating households with cooperation from Nichirei Foods Co., Ltd. and Iris Ohyama Co., Ltd.

'Katariba Home Meal' Project Overview

- Target: Families using Katariba's support programs (Adachi Base, room-K, Kikkake Program) and facing economic hardship (pre-registration required) - Content: Regular delivery of frozen bento boxes, three meals per week per child - Period: July 15 to August 25, 2026 (6 weeks) - Service Area: Nationwide - Cooperation: Nichirei Foods Co., Ltd., Iris Ohyama Co., Ltd. (in no particular order, titles omitted)

'A Reliable Meal for Every Child' — Call for Donation Supporters

The 'Katariba Home Meal' program is funded entirely by public donations. Amid ongoing price hikes, support is needed to create a safe and secure summer environment for children.

Donations can be made via the dedicated campaign page:

Special LP: https://www.katariba.or.jp/spirit/children_2026s1.html

We kindly ask for your support to ensure more children can feel the comfort of knowing, 'Today, I will definitely have something to eat.'

Message from the Representative (Kumiko Imamura, Representative Director, NPO Katariba)

Summer vacation may be an exciting time for children. But for families Katariba works with, reality includes single parents working full-time jobs while taking on night shifts, or families who cannot afford air conditioning due to electricity costs, or those forced to cut food expenses leading to poor nutrition—families facing a summer where nothing can be further reduced.

This year's survey highlighted multiple voices saying, 'I can't cut back any further.'

Prices continue to rise compared to last year, yet there's nothing left to cut.

Last year, users shared, 'Just knowing meals would arrive brought me peace of mind. That mental relief reached my child too.' I realized that delivering meals also means delivering security. This year, I hope to bring that same sense of security to as many families as possible.

Survey Overview

- Period: June 3, 2026 – June 14, 2026 - Method: Online questionnaire survey - Target: Parents using support programs by Certified NPO Katariba (Adachi Base, room-K, Kikkake Program) - Valid Responses: 250 (Note: This does not represent the number of households or supporters supported by this project)