For many students and families, the end of the school year also signals the end of access to school-provided free and reduced price meals.
Look for our “Meet Up And Eat Up” signs at all of our summer food service locations.
The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan helps fill this gap by providing healthy meals at our summer feeding sites throughout Genesee, Gladwin, Saginaw, and Lapeer counties. Our Summer Food Service Program, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), aims to fill that gap, providing children with free, healthy meals during the summer months when school is not in session and when many children often face missing meals and lack of proper nutrition. More than 21 million children receive free and reduced-price meals during the school year, but only 17% of these children participate in the Summer Food Service Program.
Every summer, the Food Bank partners with 40-60 feeding sites to help keep young people nourished and healthy. As a sponsor of the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Food Bank distributes more than 80,000 meals through daily deliveries to each location during the summer. Breakfast and lunch are provided daily by the Food Bank, as well as kid-friendly treats.
We don’t stop there—the Food Bank also strives to provide healthy snacks in our Summer Take Home Nutrition Nags. They are offered at every site and are for children to take home and enjoy over the weekend. The bags contain pre-cut vegetables, fresh fruit, granola bars, milk, and 100% juice. Since the program’s inception in 2011, the Food Bank has distributed more 75,000 nutrition bags.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Your gift will aid in the efforts to relieve childhood hunger. Your donations in support of the program is the single best way to help the cause. You can also get involved with your local community schools and help bring the program to your local district. You may volunteer your services to help stuff backpacks during the school day.
