For kids who receive school meals, the summer months can be the hungriest time of year. No Kid Hungry Louisiana provided seven organizations across the state with a total of $97,500 to help reach more kids in rural communities with summer meals.
Traditional summer meal programs have only reached a fraction of kids in rural communities, but non-congregate summer meal flexibilities have been a game changer in recent years. No Kid Hungry’s grant funding supports summer meal programs that make meals more accessible for rural families by delivering meals to children who need them or allowing parents to pick meals up at a central location to be taken home for their kids, oftentimes for multiple days at a time.
The following parish and community organizations received No Kid Hungry summer grants in Louisiana:
- Campti Community Development Center
- East Baton Rouge Parish
- The Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Inc.
- Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana
- Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
- St. Landry Parish School Board
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
For many children, during the school year, free and reduced price school meals ensure reliable access to nutrition. When schools close for the summer, however, these meals disappear and families struggle from the strain on already-tight budgets. This can be particularly true for rural families. A recent No Kid Hungry nationwide survey found that nearly three quarters (74%) of rural families living on low incomes with children ran out of food in the past year.
“Summer meals are a lifeline for kids and families who rely on school meals throughout the school year,” said Rhonda Jackson, No Kid Hungry Louisiana director. “We’re excited to support the programs that are making dependable nutrition accessible to families in all corners of the state, reaching many more kids with the food they need to stay healthy over the summer and start the next school year ready to learn.”
For help finding a Summer Meal site, visit www.NoKidHungry.org/Help or /Ayuda. The program is available to all children 18 and under.