One out of five children in San Luis Obispo County faces hunger. When schools are closed for summer, children have less access to nutritious meals as many rely on free or reduced school breakfast and lunch. This is why must! charities and Feeding America have selected the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County to receive Hunger Free Summer grants to help provide more healthy food to kids when they need it most, when school is out for summer.
“The Hunger Free Summer grants allow us to provide meals to kids, so they don’t have to worry about food, and have more time to run, play and be kids,” says Andrea Keisler, Children’s Programs Manager of the Food Bank. “Not only is Feeding America making it possible for kids to eat free this summer, but must! charities is sponsoring free Children’s Farmers Markets. We want kids to get excited about fruits and vegetables and to bring their enthusiasm and produce home to nourish the entire family.”
With the help of volunteers and by partnering with local school districts, county libraries, and summer programs, the Food Bank will distribute FREE meals to children and teens, ages 18 years and younger, at 28 locations county-wide this summer. Financial support to make the Hunger Free Summer possible comes from Feeding America’s grant of $40,000 and a $27,000 grant from must! charities, totaling $67,000.
“The Food Bank will launch its Hunger Free Summer Program on June 15,” says Andrea Keisler, Children’s Program’s Manager. “Through our partnership with must! charities and Feeding America, we’ll serve more than 55,000 meals for kids and host 29 free Children’s Farmers Markets this summer.”