Special summer program keeps kids from going hungry
»Play Video
SEATTLE - Now that school's out - and meal programs are over - many children in the community face a summer of empty stomachs.
But a program launching this weekend looks to make sure kids don't go hungry.
The Summer Food Service Program, offered by Seattle's Human Services Department, is a godsend to Tammy Nguyen, who worried she wouldn't be able to feed her children this summer.
"Being a low-income mom, providing three meals a day is hard, and any free resources in the community helps, a lot," she says.
The summer meals program is benefiting from a $225,000 grant from Wal-Mart to make sure kids don't go hungry now that school is out.
Thousands of children, from as young as a year old to age 18, will get free meals and snacks through the program.
The meals are served to children at approved sites where at least half the children are eligible for free or reduced price school lunches.
"A lot of parents are at work, and kids are left to fend for themselves, so the program kind of gives the kids that little freedom to go out of the house, be on their own and get some food," says John James of the Summer Food Service Program.
"And during summertime is the critical time because there's just nobody here to fill that gap, and so with the budgetary constraints Walmart's decided to step up," says Marc Pelham of Walmart.
Besides meals, some of the kids will get to take home a bag of locally grown fresh produce each week.
"I think this program is very positive in many ways. ... Now that you're getting community people that need help, they know that there's a place for them and that the community cares," says Tammy Nguyen.
And for Tammy, it's a relief to see her kids smile - on a full belly.
-----
• Visit the program's website for more information »
But a program launching this weekend looks to make sure kids don't go hungry.
The Summer Food Service Program, offered by Seattle's Human Services Department, is a godsend to Tammy Nguyen, who worried she wouldn't be able to feed her children this summer.
"Being a low-income mom, providing three meals a day is hard, and any free resources in the community helps, a lot," she says.
The summer meals program is benefiting from a $225,000 grant from Wal-Mart to make sure kids don't go hungry now that school is out.
Thousands of children, from as young as a year old to age 18, will get free meals and snacks through the program.
The meals are served to children at approved sites where at least half the children are eligible for free or reduced price school lunches.
"A lot of parents are at work, and kids are left to fend for themselves, so the program kind of gives the kids that little freedom to go out of the house, be on their own and get some food," says John James of the Summer Food Service Program.
"And during summertime is the critical time because there's just nobody here to fill that gap, and so with the budgetary constraints Walmart's decided to step up," says Marc Pelham of Walmart.
Besides meals, some of the kids will get to take home a bag of locally grown fresh produce each week.
"I think this program is very positive in many ways. ... Now that you're getting community people that need help, they know that there's a place for them and that the community cares," says Tammy Nguyen.
And for Tammy, it's a relief to see her kids smile - on a full belly.
-----
• Visit the program's website for more information »
