Hunger affects 1 out of 7 children in the U.S. That number increases over the summer as school is let out. If you all recall from last summer, I posted a few times about the Summer Food Service Program: and how it was helping so many families by supplying lunch for children under age 18 all across the country. It was a fantastic program for those who counted on the breakfast and lunch programs through the school systems to feed their children on a regular basis. Oklahoma, however, had the lowest participation rates, ranking 51st in the country: where roughly 300,000 children may have been left without a stable source of nutrition. So, Feed the Children decided that they needed to make a change by using evidence-based approaches that address the barriers for children who are unable to have access to nutritious meals in the summer. That’s why Feed the Children is announcing their pilot program ‘The Oklahoma Summer Food and Education Program’ which is going to be tested across Oklahoma this summer.
The Oklahoma Summer Food and Education Program is allowing better access to more meals – to give families longer-term support – and meals that can be consumed at home. Feed the Children will supply 115,000 take-home meals, many of which will be purchased with private funds.
But they’re not stopping there! The Oklahoma Summer Food and Education Program is also focusing on nourishing bodies and minds. At 11 USDA FNS-approved feeding sites, Feed the Children will provide books and educational resources for children, as well as backpacks and supplies for the upcoming school year – and testing out several innovative activities that may help children to excel during the school year.
To continue developing their fight against hunger, the Oklahoma Summer Food and Education program is also conducting a study on the barriers as to why some low-income parents send their children for the meals, while others do not. Results from the pilot will be offered as evidence-based research to Feed the Children partners to identify ways to better solve summer food insecurities that will have an impact, a greater reach, all while remaining cost-effective.
Feed the Children believes that Childhood is precious and incredibly important in the life of a person, but hunger, disease, and poverty keep kids from really experiencing it. So they hope to help kids by ensuring they have the daily essentials needed to experience a healthy childhood, from their first day of life onward.
Won’t you join in?
You can help by spreading the word about the Oklahoma Summer Food and Education Program and Feed the Children initiatives throughout the Country: to raise awareness for those who could use the help this summer while school is out of session.
Join us for a Tweet-up! 
Join myself and The Motherhood in the Feed the Children Tweet-up to learn more about their initiatives and ways that you can get involved in the fight against hunger – The Tweet-up will take place on Wednesday July 9th, 1pm-2pm EST. Follow the #HelpKidsBeKids hashtag to track the conversation. By joining the conversation, you are automatically entered to win one of five $25 VISA gift cards through the tweet-up based on correct responses to trivia questions. No purchase necessary; winners must be residents of the United States and 18 years of age or older.
RSVP here: http://twtvite.com/feedthechildren
Special thanks to the Motherhood and Feed the Children for sponsoring this post!
What a great cause. Thanks for sharing, I will try to join in.
I find it so sad that children have to starve during the summer because they don’t have school lunches to count on. People focus so much on hunger during the winter (and especially around holiday times) but forget that families need the most help in the summer! Thanks for reminding us of this great cause. I will try to join in if we get rained out from going to the lake.
It’s so hard to imagine that children are going hungry in our society. I will try to join and help spread the word.
How great that Feed the Children is able to provide so many wonderful services for children. I love that they are feeding minds now, also.
Such a good cause. It is amazing with the way we help so many causes that we have a problem like this. It is truly a shame.
This is a great program. There are so many kids here in Chicago that would benefit from this.
Noone should go hungry, especially children. That sounds like a great program!
At one of our former military posts, they’d keep lunches going at local schools for this very reason. I think it’s a wonderful program, kids should never go hungry 🙁
what a great cause. the summer is so hard for some kids because there is no breakfast or lunch program
It is so sad that there is so much hunger in our Society. We need to do our part and help with giving to the needy and to food banks. This sounds like a great Summer food program that does so much for the kids.
I’d be super curious to know the results of that study. I wonder if it’s pride? Anyhow, I hate that we have this problem at all, but I’m glad feed the children is working hard!
This is such a great cause. It makes me sad that there are hungry children in this country while others live in such surplus surrounded by material things.
This is a wonderful initiative, kids should never go hungry!
I live in Missouri, and the issue is here at well. Our church’s food pantry is helping many more families than we did just a few years ago, because there is so much more need in our neighborhood. Summer is the forgotten season – though we are grateful for the holiday food drives, it would be nice to have that kind of support year round. So many schools in our area supply both breakfast AND lunch during the school year….so summer hits these families especially hard.
When I lived in Oklahoma I used to see this on TV all the time. Seems like such a great program and I love that they take care of people close to home.