How Mid-Michigan Families Are Accessing Free Food Resources to Bridge Summer Meal Gaps

LANSING, Mich. — As summer approaches and school meal programs come to an end, local families like David Lovely’s are feeling the pressure of food insecurity. David, a father of six, sees vital support from local food resources, such as the LMTS center in Lansing.

"The LMTS center gives us food with no strings attached," David says. "Without places like this, we’d be struggling."

The gap between the end of school and the start of summer meal programs can last up to 90 days. This makes it hard for families who rely on school lunches. Katlyn Cardoso from the Greater Lansing Food Bank highlights the problem: "When school ends, many kids go without meals until summer programs kick in."

To counter this, local organizations are stepping up. The Greater Lansing Food Bank has weekend food kit programs that provide kid-friendly meals for families during non-school hours. They are also collaborating with libraries and summer camps to keep providing support through the summer.

David finds these community resources invaluable. "Trying to feed my kids is tough. Knowing there’s help means a lot to us," he explains.

Recent data reveals that about 11 million children in the U.S. face hunger issues during the summer months, according to the USDA. This highlights the need for programs that fill the gaps in food resources.

For those in the Mid-Michigan area, there are several options for free meals this summer:

• Meet Up and Eat Up: Offers free breakfast and lunch for children 18 and under throughout the summer. Locations will open in June. More details can be found here.
• Greater Lansing Weekend Kits: Provides bags of food on weekends for kids. Pickup locations are available here.
• Jackson Food Pantries: There are various food assistance options listed here.
• Summer EBT Program: Offers $120 per eligible child to help families buy groceries during the summer months. More information can be found here.

These resources aim to ease the burden for families during the long summer break, making it a little easier to ensure children have access to nutritious meals.

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