Summer Meal Programs Commence in Kansas City to Address Food Insecurity During School Holidays

Summer Meal Programs Underway Across Kansas City to Aid Food Insecurity

Aid during the Hungry Days

Community and school leaders in Kansas City, Missouri are making sure children do not go hungry this summer as meal programs are kicking into gear during the holidays. These programs are a lifeline for many families who struggle to feed their children due to the high grocery bills experienced in an economy in flux.

A Hunger-Free Summer

Lori Danella, the nutrition services director for Lee Summit School District, states that currently about 22 percent of students in her district depend on free and reduced lunches offered during the academic year. At one particular school within the district, Meadow Lane, over 50 percent of the student body participate in the meal program.

During the summer, Meadow Lane opens its cafeteria to children from the community who are less than 18 years old, thus ensuring that the student population along with the broader community don’t struggle with lack of access to food during the school break. Danella added, “We never turn away a child.”

Local Business Stepping In

Meanwhile, in the neighboring city of Blue Springs, the school district is faced with a staggering meal debt of over $235,000. For the workers at local Sandy’s Restaurant, tackling this problem with their summer food delivery program has been taken personally. Bobby Hines, the restaurant’s general manager, states, “It’s a problem in the community. Somewhere, something’s broken and we can’t fix it, but we sure can help with it.”

Fighting Hunger by Paying off the Debt

In 2019, Hines reveals that the restaurant donated an impressive $100,000 towards the district’s school meal debt. Today, people continue to donate items such as chips, snack bars, and bottled water, which all get packed into bagged lunches to be distributed in areas with the greatest need. From the 10th of June, workers and volunteers at Sandy’s Restaurant are planning to distribute a minimum of 5,000 lunches to local communities throughout Blue Springs.

Allies on the Frontline

Detailed information about the summer meals program run by Lee Summit is available on Facebook. Further support for hungry children is available through the USDA’s summer food service program appropriately named as SUN meals. More information about this can be found on their official website.

HERE Kansas City

Recent Posts

Judicial Nomination Deal Influences Control of Federal Courthouses Amid Political Tensions

Federal Courthouse Control at Stake Amid Judicial Nomination Deal In Washington D.C., tension is mounting…

11 hours ago

Alabama Uses Nitrogen Gas for Execution for the First Time Despite Ethical Concerns

Alabama Executes Man Using Nitrogen Gas for First Time Odenville, Alabama - In a significant…

11 hours ago

Pittsburgh Steelers Suffer Heartbreaking Loss to Cleveland Browns in Thrilling Showdown

Pittsburgh's Heartbreak: Steelers Fall to the Browns in a Nail-Biter Last night in Pittsburgh, the…

11 hours ago

Historic Storms Unleash Torrential Rain and Cause Widespread Flooding in Northern California and Pacific Northwest

Historic Storms Bring Heavy Rain and Flooding to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest As…

11 hours ago

New York Jets Face Quarterback Uncertainty as Aaron Rodgers’ Future Hangs in the Balance

New York's Quarterback Quandary: Aaron Rodgers and His Future New York City is buzzing again,…

11 hours ago