While summer may be a time for fun in the sun and vacations for many kids, for those who are on free or reduced breakfast or lunch, it may mean a time when they no longer have access to what might be the only hot meal of their days.
According to Food Lifeline — an organization that works with the food industry and its surpluses to come up with creative solutions to stopping hunger, including redirecting good food from manufacturers, farmers, grocery stores and restaurants that might otherwise go to waste — there are about 485,000 kids in Washington who receive free or reduced meals at school. During the summer, about 46,000 of those kids are in replacement programs such as daycares that provide meals for them. That leaves about 439,000 kids who are going without meals in the summer.
In addition, Mark Coleman, director of marketing and communications for Food Lifeline, said donations at food banks also decline in the summer as people don’t realize the need is actually on the rise during this time of the year. He said most people recognize the holidays as a great time of need, but not the summer.
Some people who have recognized this need are the dairy farmers in Washington and Oregon, who got together to do their part in helping feed these kids.
The farmers approached grocery chains Fred Meyer and QFC to hold a food drive throughout the month of June at all of the companies’ store locations in both states — including in Redmond.
Zach Stratton, philanthropy coordinator for Fred Meyer, said this is the third year for the Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger food drive. In their first year, Stratton said they collected about 14,500 pounds between the two states. Last year, he said, the two states collected about 80,000 pounds of food. He added that they have a formula to convert the cash collected into pounds of food, as well.
“We’re always amazed and blown away by how generous our customers are,” Stratton said, adding that this year’s food drive is set to bring in even more food than last year. “We’re excited to finish strong this year.”
In Western Washington, the food and cash donations will go to Food Lifeline.
Coleman said Food Lifeline takes the food it receives and sorts it into manageable packages, which are then distributed to more than 275 food banks in the greater Puget Sound area. He said the donations — food and cash — from this month’s food drive will go toward the Food Lifeline general fund and food supply. That way, Coleman said, they can split the food and money among local food banks and Food Lifeline’s Kids Cafe program.
According to the Food Lifeline website, Kids Cafe brings nutritious meals and snacks to high-need communities, where more than half the students qualify for free and reduced lunches at school.
“Kids Cafe meals and snacks are specifically selected to appeal to (kids’) notoriously picky palates and to meet their special nutritional guidelines,” the website states.
In addition, the program also works to instill healthy eating habits and provides monthly nutritional education that is also fun for kids.
“It’s a really remarkable program,” Coleman said.
All Fred Meyer and QFC locations in Redmond — as well as throughout Washington — are currently collecting food and cash donations through Tuesday.
Stratton said people can donate non-perishable food and cash in person at the stores. They can also donate money online at nwfarmersfightinghunger.org. On the website, people can select which food bank to donate to.
Redmond’s Fred Meyer is located at 17667 N.E. 76th St. Redmond QFC locations are at 8867 161st Ave. N.E. and 15800 Redmond Way. There is a QFC on Redmond Ridge at 23475 N.E. Novelty Hill Road.
