More than 55,000 children and teens in Northwest Indiana our community rely on National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs during the school year. So for many of them, summer break is more than just a break from homework—it’s also a break from the comfort and security of guaranteed meals each school day.
The last thing a child should have to worry about during the summer is whether or not they will have something to eat that day.
For millions of children, summer too often means missing meals that they would have otherwise received at school. While summer and summer meals may look different this year, the Feeding America network of food banks will continue to ensure children and families have meals they need to rest, recharge and play. The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana addresses summer hunger through three primary programs:
- BackPack on the Go – Provides weekly food assistance to 700 children enrolled through the Boys & Girls Club and local schools. Backpack On The Go is sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Funders Collaborative (John W. Anderson Foundation, Lake Area United Way, Legacy Foundation, Porter County United Way, and United Way of Porter County.
- Pantry Pack – Provides approximately 25 pounds of monthly groceries to targeted food insecure individuals. Pantry Pack is serving children/youth through partnerships with Lake County Juvenile Detention Center, YMCA, YWCA, Everybody Counts, and more.
- SFSP – Provides breakfast and lunch to children/youth ages 18 and under. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is sponsored by USDA to bridge the meal gap that students face when school is out. Summer Feeding Program Sites for the state of Indiana can be found here.
For more information, about Summer Hunger initiatives, please contact Chanda Dixon, cdixon@foodbanknwi.org, 219-980-1777, x310.
