Summer should be a carefree time for kids, filled with sunshine, laughter, and making memories. But for millions of children in America, summer means hunger. When the school bell rings for the last time, many lose access to the meals they rely on throughout the year.
This year, things can be different. No Kid Hungry, a dedicated organization fighting childhood hunger, is teaming up with a powerful force for good. With the help of celebrities like Al Roker, Lorena Garcia, Selenis Leyva, Dayanara Torres, and Eugenio Derbez, they're raising awareness of critical new resources that could benefit 30 million children facing summer hunger.
New Hope for Hungry Kids
Thanks to years of tireless advocacy by No Kid Hungry and others, Congress passed a game-changing law expanding summer meals programs. Traditionally, these programs offered free meals at schools and community centers, but they only reached roughly 13 out of every 100 kids who needed them.
Now, there's a comprehensive solution on the horizon. A new permanent grocery benefit, called Summer EBT or SUN Bucks, will provide eligible families with $120 per child to stretch their grocery budgets during the summer months. This program is planned to be implemented in nearly 37 states, five territories, and three tribal nations, helping to reach more families wherever they live.
Rural communities will also have increased access to non-congregate meal options. This means schools and organizations can deliver meals or provide take-home options, eliminating transportation barriers for families.
"Summer should be a time of joy and fun for children," said Al Roker, weather and feature anchor of NBC's TODAY. "The new grocery benefit combined with more flexible ways children in hard-to-reach places can access free healthy meals this summer will go a long way to ensure just that. I'm proud to join No Kid Hungry and do my part to help end summer hunger for kids in America."
Empowering Families to Find Food
No Kid Hungry is leading the charge to end summer hunger for good. They're providing technical assistance and grant funding to schools, community organizations, and state agencies. This ensures they have the resources needed to implement these critical programs.
But there's another crucial step: making sure families know about these resources. Roker, Garcia and Lyva are all lending their voices to help spread the word through public service announcements and will leverage their own social media platforms to bring awareness to the cause.
Chef Lorena Garcia said, "While there's a lot to celebrate, we know that the real work begins now," said Lorena Garcia, chef, author, restaurateur and TV personality. "I'm thrilled to bring my passion for food and team up with No Kid Hungry once again so parents and caregivers, including Spanish-speaking families, are aware of all the new resources available to help feed our nation's children when school is out."
How to Find Free Summer Meals for Kids in Need
Here's how families can find free summer meals for children 18 and under:
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Text 'FOOD' or 'COMIDA' to 304-304
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Visit NoKidHungry.org/Help or comidasdeverano.org
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Families can also visit NoKidHungry.org/Benefits to learn more about Summer EBT eligibility and enrollment.
With No Kid Hungry's leadership, celebrity support, and these powerful new resources, we can ensure every child in America has access to the healthy meals they need to thrive, all summer long.
