By Gideon Adams, Senior Manager, Programs & Outreach
This summer…
6,300 more children could depend on a healthy meal five days a week.
6,300 more children had enough energy to play outside and continue to learn all summer long.
6,300 more children didn’t have to worry about their next meal and could enjoy their summer like any other kid.
That is the power of our Kids Summer Meals program.
Because of our strong partnerships in communities across central & eastern NC and a group of wonderful, dedicated Food Bank staff members, we served more than 200,000 meals to more than 6,300 children in 11 weeks. In 23 counties we worked with 135 Kids Summer Meals sites that served breakfast and lunch at churches, community centers, and schools. A third of those sites served hot, specially catered meals to their kids thanks to partnerships with local caterers and restaurants. This year we had our first ever vegetarian site and provided almost 20,000 extra boxes of food to the families of children in the program. We served a record number of meals to a record number of children at more sites than ever before.
And here’s why we do it:
Children at our Kids Summer Meals sites were asked “What does Kids Summer Meals mean to you?” This is what the program means to Ella. Spaghetti and meatballs are always a favorite!
“I like it when they give us food so we’re not so very hungry.”
“Food is hard for some, some have none. Kids Summer Meals helps feed the hungry.”
Like Cody, we know that food is hard for some, and some have none at all. We are grateful for a community that works together to help feed kids while school cafeterias are closed and their parents are going through tough times, and we will continue to work hard to serve even more children next year.
Sincere thanks to all of our partners that made this summer awesome for thousands of kids in North Carolina!
A girl at a YMCA in Goldsboro, one of our Kids Summer Meals sites, waits in line for her hot lunch: Roast beef with sweet peas, fruit, and bread.
