As we approach the summer school break, we need to also realize that when school in not in session, so many children go hungry. Statistics from the Food Research and Action Center show that 32 percent of African American households with children were food insecure in 2010, almost 12 percent higher than the national average. This number increases when the children don’t have the access to the school meals. So many of our schools have a breakfast and lunch program while school is in session. That void is created when the school is on summer break. Far too many people can’t afford the extra food it takes in the summer to feed their children, so they go without or they turn to a food bank for support. In New Orleans, The Food Bank of New Orleans/ Just The Right Attitude (www.FoodBankNOLA.org) will see a surge in families needing food for the summer. The Food Bank of New Orleans will need extra food and funds to help me the demand.
Please take time to volunteer or donate food or money to The Food Bank of New Orleans. It is also a great place to take your children to and let them witness the hard work that is done at The Food Bank of New Orleans. If your child has required service hours, I suggest you let them do their hours at The Food Bank of New Orleans. Talking about food insecurity and seeing it first hand is a huge difference.
For more information on The Food Bank of New Orleans go to www.FoodBankNOLA.org
For more information of children going hungry in the summer, look at this article. http://www.aolnews.com/2010/06/16/record-number-of-us-kids-facing-summer-of-hunger/
Ray Reggie
