TAMPA, Fla. — As summer break begins across the Tampa Bay area, many families are facing increased food insecurity as children lose access to free and reduced-price school meals.

To help meet the growing need, Feeding Tampa Bay is receiving a major donation of 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable food through a partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and JustServe. The shipment is expected to provide enough food for approximately 400,000 meals.

The donation comes at a critical time for families across the region. Feeding Tampa Bay, which serves 10 counties, said demand for assistance typically rises during the summer months when students are not receiving meals at school.

For many of the approximately one million families served by the organization, children rely on schools for up to two meals each day during the academic year. With schools closed until August, parents are often forced to stretch already tight household budgets to cover additional food expenses.

“If you’re a parent, you know how much your kids eat, so it becomes a little bit more of a challenge,” said Lorena Hardwick, Chief External Affairs Officer for Feeding Tampa Bay. “It’s harder for them to get those groceries in the refrigerator. For us, we are just so grateful for the donations and volunteer time that really help our families during this time.”

In addition to food and financial contributions, Feeding Tampa Bay is encouraging community members to volunteer. The organization is seeking assistance with stocking, sorting, and distributing food to families throughout the summer.

At the same time, nonprofits are facing challenges of their own.

Rising fuel costs are increasing expenses for organizations that rely on transportation to deliver food and supplies. Feeding Tampa Bay operates its own delivery fleet and says higher gas prices have driven up operating costs.

According to the organization, smaller nonprofits are being hit especially hard, with some forced to adjust their budgets to continue providing essential services to families in need.

As summer progresses, Feeding Tampa Bay says community support through donations and volunteer efforts will play a key role in helping families bridge the gap until students return to school in the fall.