During the school year, kids from low-income families can receive free breakfast and lunch at school. However, during the summer, too often they go hungry.
That’s why, this year, the Food Bank of Manatee started a Summer Lunch Bag Program.
The Food Bank of Manatee spent Friday unloading and giving out hundreds of bags of food to kids in Manatee County to ensure they don’t go hungry over the weekend.
“We provide two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks.” said Cindy Sloan, director at The Food Bank Of Manatee as she handed out the bags of food to kids participating at the 13th Ave Dream Center's Summer program in Bradenton.
This year, the food bank launched a Summer Hunger Campaign. Through it, they raised funds to keep more than 500 little bellies full every weekend.
“No one wants to see kids go hungry, and if it's our friends and neighbors and we know we can do something to help, that’s just what we should all do.” Sloan said.
Gregory Parker was excited to receive his bag of food.
“Canmed pasta, Mac and cheese, apple sauce, Jello fruit snacks," he said.
Parker says that with five kids in his house, sometimes he does not have enough to eat.
“My mom’s got five kids, so the food is gone a lot," he said.
Making this lunch bag and the people giving them out are very special.
The Summer lunch Bag Campaign will be going on through The Food Bank of Manatee for 10 weeks. They give out about 500 bags per weekend. Their goal is to give out 5,000.