Video: Summer Nutrition Program

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Approximately one in five families in Mississippi do not know where their next meal will come from. With school out, families are faced with even more challenges.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Program hopes to bring peace of mind to parents who worry about providing meals for their kids.

“We get a chance to feed the children while they are out for the summer and that gives them a chance to get a nutritious meal during the summer while school is out,” says Rosean Roberts.

The program is geared toward children and teens who typically receive free or reduced lunch during the school year. Anyone under the age of 18 is welcomed to show up for a free breakfast and lunch.

Paula Baker says, “We had 65 to 70 for breakfast in the morning and were looking at about240-250 for lunch.”

Over the course of the summer over 2 million lunches are expected to be served across Mississippi. With hungry mouths to be fed, food service manager Paula Baker has one request.

“Try to eat everything that they are given because you know, maybe sometimes we don’t know do they really get that at home.”

Mississippi is amongst 12 other states to participate in the summer food service program.