BEREA, Ky. — More children in Kentucky are getting the nutrition they need during the summer, according to Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report, released by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC, a national anti-hunger advocacy group). The report ranks Kentucky 46 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia for participation in the federally funded Summer Nutrition Programs, which include the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program.
844,834 lunches were served in the Summer Nutrition Programs in Kentucky during June 2017. This represents an increase of 14.1% in meals served compared to the previous summer.
This growth is not duplicated nationally, with programs serving summer lunch to 14,000 fewer children across the country in July 2017 than in July 2016. Even fewer children — 1.6 million — ate breakfast at a summer meals site in July 2017.
“When school lets out, too many children lose access to the school breakfasts and lunches they rely on during the school year, increasing childhood hunger and stretching family budgets during the summer,” said Kate McDonald, KY Kids Eat Campaign Coordinator at the Kentucky Association of Food Banks. “Summer meals help fill this gap by providing meals to children at sites where they can eat, learn, and play.”
Free summer meals are provided at local sites in Kentucky such as schools, recreation centers, libraries, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, churches, and parks for children ages 18 and under. Not only do summer meals help children stave off hunger, the programming offered at many sites keeps children engaged in educational, physical, and recreational activities, ensuring they avert the “summer slide” and return to school in the fall better prepared to learn.
“Our coalition’s goal is to grow the number of summer meals sites across Kentucky that offer enrichment activities alongside meals so children not only have access to nutritious foods, they also have opportunities to learn, be active, and stay safe while their parents are working,” said McDonald.
To do this, KY Kids Eat is providing funding for summer food service program sponsors to support mobile meal programs, enrichment programs, and financial incentives to purchase locally-grown produce through the K-VIP program. K-VIP is a cross-sector partnership between the Kentucky Association of Food Banks, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture that gives summer feeding sponsors an incentive to purchase produce from Kentucky farmers. In total, KY Kids Eat is providing up to $215,000 in support to Kentucky schools and nonprofits this summer.
— Kentucky Association of Food Banks
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