Chef Lorena Garcia, Ayesha Curry and Big Freedia team up with No Kid Hungry to help kids get free summer meals

During the school year, children can rely on school meal programs like breakfast, lunch, and after-school meals. But when school is closed, many of those meals disappear, making summer the craziest time of year for kids and teens. This summer, rising food and fuel prices will make it especially difficult for families to put meals on the table.

Free summer meal programs, run by local schools and community groups, are available and open to any child or teen who needs a healthy meal. But due to the expiration of waivers for child nutrition during a pandemic, it is estimated that there will be 20% fewer dining sites this summer compared to last year. Children could miss around 95 million meals this summer. No Kid Hungry equips schools and community resource groups to serve as many summer meals as possible and advocates for policies to reduce the barriers that prevent children from being fed during the summer.

Raising awareness of the free summer meal program is key this year, which is why chef Lorena Garcia, Curry Aisha, and Big Freedia step in to publicize No Kid Hungry’s texting service. They will record PSAs, amplify them on social media and more. Stay tuned to No Kid Hungry’s social media channels all summer for this content.

“As a chef, I know exactly how food and nutrition are linked to success and happiness,” said chef, author, restaurateur and television personality, Lorena Garcia. “Every child deserves a full stomach, no matter the time of year. I am proud to partner with No Kid Hungry to promote this essential service so that more parents and caregivers, including Spanish-speaking families, know where they can access nutritious meals for their children during the school closure.”

“As a mother of three, it’s hard to imagine millions of children not getting the nourishment they need to thrive,” said the entrepreneur, chef, twice New York Times best-selling author, philanthropist and member of the national No Kid Hungry spokesperson family, Curry Aisha. “We all have a role to play when it comes to ending child hunger, which is why we need to come together in our villages and work on the ground to have real impact. I’m so proud of m “Partnering with No Kid Hungry through our Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to raise awareness of our essential programs that ensure all children have access to food this summer, in Oakland and across the country.”

“I have seen the work of No Kid Hungry and the impact of summer meal sites firsthand in my hometown of New Orleans“, said hip-hop artist and television personality Big Freedia. “Children need full stomachs to grow properly and focus on their role as children. Summer meals give them the opportunity to do just that.”

To find free summer meals for youth 18 and under, text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 or visit NoKidHungry.org/Help. The media and the general public can also access the social media toolkit to help amplify the message now through August 12.

No Kid Hungry is proud to work with partners like Town and the Arby Foundation to ensure that children have access to free meals this summer and all year round.

About No Kid Hungry

No child should go hungry in America. But as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 6 children could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry works to end childhood hunger by helping to launch and improve programs that give all children the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

Media Contact:
This Henriquez, [email protected]

SOURCE No Starving Child