END Child Hunger this Summer
Summer is not always fun — many children in America are hungry. Summer meals programs
exist, but they operate under outdated regulations that stop their effectiveness. As a result, we feed a fraction of the kids who are eligible, and in need. Less than 2 1/2 million children are fed in summer vacation, but 22 million children receive free or reduced priced meals during the school year.
Raise your voice this minute! Sign this petition now, urging your federal Senator and Representative to end child hunger this summer . Ask them to give states and communities more options to implement summer meal sites in more effective and efficient ways.
We need policies that provide communities the resources to connect more kids to summer meals, no matter where, or how far apart they live.
*****Take a few minutes to cut, paste and email this information below to your legislator.
The Summer Meals Act of 2015 allows free or reduced-price meals to be available at sites such as summer programs, summer school, parks and recreation centers, YMCAs, YWCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs that are located in a low income area, or that serve primarily low‐income children. Many of these sites offer learning, enrichment, and/or recreational activities in addition to nutritious meals. Here are the changes in regulations that we need:
Free or reduced‐price meals, should be promoted in areas where 40% of the children are eligible, but currently 50 percent of children must be eligible.
Government agencies as well private non-profits should qualify to serve meals, but and not just one or the other.
3 meals should be served daily rather than only 2 meals as are served today.
Mobile meal trucks should be used in suburban areas where public transportation is not available.
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Here is the information for developing a summer meal site .
You can Google the name of your city or town plus “summer meal sites” and you may locate programs near you.
Visit this site for more information.
Many of us have suffered a harsh winter. May and June have raised our spirits with spring flowers and warmer weather. Best wishes to all!
Becky Richardson, President, Promise the Children
