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Feeding Hungry Kids
By
Holly Wagner, WINK News
Story Created:
Jun 10, 2009 at 4:51 AM EST
Story Updated:
Jun 10, 2009 at 5:04 AM EST
This year, the Harry Chapin Food Bank and agencies like CCMI have fed more hungry kids than ever. In some cases, school is the only place children can count on a meal.
Now agencies are stepping up to make sure those kids eat over the summer. Wednesday is the last day of school for many kids in Southwest Florida. Summer presents a challenge for some parents when it comes to feeding their family.
Some kids rely on two meals a day at school. This year, several schools started a backpack program, were they send backpacks full of food home with students over the weekend. Those schools include Tice and Orange River Elementary. The principals say some children were going all weekend long without eating a single meal. Now with school getting out for the summer, local agencies want to make sure kids don't go without.
CCMI - Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated is launching a mobile food pantry. Every day of the week the truck will be parked at a school in Southwest Florida. It will be stocked with food, and parents can come and get what need to feed their family.
"We want to increase access to the food," says Sarah Owen with CCMI. "The community has done such a good job in garnering resources and food, but it doesn't matter if families who need it can't get to it."
"If you need help, please don't hesitate to come and get it, and if you don't please continue to contribute for those that do."
The mobile food pantry will be at a different school every day of the week starting next week. Call 211 to find out when and where.
The owner of Suncoast Beverage donated the truck.
Volunteers from the Salvation Army and other agencies will be on hand to provide families with additional services.