Food Bank Kick-Starts Summer Food Service

Food Bank of Delaware volunteers pack bags full of snacks for children at risk of going hungry over the summer months. The Food Bank will distribute more than 200,000 meals this summer. (Photo courtesy of the Food Bank of Delaware)

Food donations aren’t only needed during the winter holidays, the summer offers challenges to low-income children who rely on school nutrition programs. The Food Bank of Delaware offers the Summer Food Service Program to help feed children who normally receive free or reduced-price meals at school.

The program kick-started today, when volunteers packed coolers consisting of chicken salad pitas, peach cups, apples, string cheese, milk, and orange juice. Approximately 200,000 free meals will be delivered to about 4,000 children statewide in less than 50 days.

According to the Food Bank of Delaware, about 40,000 children in the first state rely on school nutrition programs. The Summer Food Service Program helps to close the gap for families during the summer months by providing healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks to eligible children.

“While news reports indicate that the economy is improving slightly, there are still many Delawareans that are struggling to make ends meet,” says Food Bank of Delaware President & CEO, Patricia Beebe. “Now that school is out many families will face the challenge of scraping together already limited funds to provide nutritious breakfast and lunch meals for their children.”

While only 22% of eligible families took advantage of the program in the past, for 2009, the Food Bank has close to 80 participating locations offering food services as compared to 50 in previous years.

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program or volunteering your time, please visit www.fbd.org or call (302) 292-1305.