Summer is here! While many are enjoying a well-deserved vacation, we’ve been working hard to adapt to the unique challenges of distributing meals during summer break.
Although federal nutrition assistance programs have been extended through the summer, the majority of USDA childhood hunger programs rely on educational settings as their primary food delivery channels. When schools are out for summer, many families have trouble accessing these meals due to a lack of transportation to school food delivery sites. In fact, No Kid Hungry reported that summer national meal programs reach just 16% of children in need when school is out of session.
To ensure that kids get the vital nutrition they need over the school break, we adapt our meal distribution channels to meet children where they are during the summer. In addition to schools, we deliver meal bags to summer camps, community organizations, and even directly to children’s homes!
It’s important that children still have access to enroll in our Weekend Meal Program during the summer months. Our Filling in the Blanks volunteers visit our summer delivery sites to make enrollment easy for kids and parents so they can receive support right away.
Thank you to all of our volunteers and staff who are working hard to tackle the challenges of school breaks. When kids don’t have to worry about their next meal, they can focus on having a fun, playful summer!
If you would like to get involved and help fight childhood hunger this summer, we are looking for volunteers to hand out meal bags and help with student enrollment every Wednesday from 10:30 am to 1 pm in Stamford, CT now through the end of the summer. Click here to see school locations, check availability, and register.
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