For Clark County families, especially those who are low-income, summer can mean accessing a patchwork of services usually offered by children’s schools.
To ease the burden, Share Vancouver, local school districts and the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington are offering free summer meals and snacks to children 18 and under. There are no income restrictions at the sites, which are funded through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. Most locations are at community centers, schools or apartment complexes, but children need not live or attend classes or programs at the site to qualify.
Katie Dwaileebe, hunger response assistant director for Share Vancouver, said summer can be a difficult time for families.
“It is vital for us to address childhood hunger, because hunger has been shown to be a severe roadblock for the learning process and childhood development,” Dwaileebe said. “Hunger can cause developmental delays, malnutrition, lack of energy, social and behavioral problems.”
According to the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office, 40.68 percent of the area’s 81,645 students receive free or reduced-price lunches.
“When the kids are out of school and they’re not receiving their meals at school, that makes it very stressful,” Dwaileebe said. “It alleviates the stress on parents.”
Games and activities will also be offered at the sites to keep kids busy.
“It’s also about fostering the community,” Dwaileebe said.
The program also relies on a network of volunteers, from cooks who prepare the meals to site facilitators to hand meals out to students. Share Volunteer Duane Royer, a retired Vancouver Fire Department captain, has been volunteering for the program for three years. Royer, 68, delivers meals from the kitchen to sites across Clark County.
“I’ve been blessed with my life,” he said. “I just feel compelled to give back.”
Royer, who also packs bags of non-perishable food for Share’s Backpack Program, said he’s often surprised by the need of local students, but is glad for the opportunity to support the program.
“I feel guilty when I know there’s something out there I could be doing,” he said.
