When school breaks for the summer, it can mean children living in lower-income households won't be receiving lunches they normally would at school. Organizations across the state are preparing to serve around two million meals during the summer.
More than 130 sponsors including the YMCA and Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon are ready to provide nutritious lunches and in some cases learning activities for kids when school is out. Annie Kirschner is a spokeswoman for Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. She says the food costs for the programs are reimbursed by the USDA.
Kirschner: "Last summer, the program leveraged $6.4 million in federal reimbursement, which came directly into communities across the state - and helped buy milk, and fruit and vegetables, and create jobs, and pay for gas, and all those things that also help the community."
In rural areas, some food programs go mobile with vans parking in public parks to accommodate children. There are summer meal programs in every county in Oregon except Lake and Wheeler counties.
copyright, 2015 KLCC