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ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 We\u2019re just one week into summer, and for thousands of Central Florida kids, that means losing reliable access to food. It\u2019s called the \u201csummer hunger gap,\u201d when school meals disappear and families are left to cover the cost of breakfast and lunch.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen school is out, they may not get a meal,\u201d Keith Wolling, a Second Harvest volunteer, said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a serious concern for many families in Central Florida.<\/p>\n
When school is out for the summer, they\u2019re now on the hook for 60 meals per child per month that they normally wouldn\u2019t have to cover.<\/p>\n
For Wolling, that means his family is visiting more often.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have four grandchildren, all the way from little up to college,\u201d Wolling said. \u201cThey like to eat and they like to snack.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the summer months, the average Central Florida family spends between $200-$500 more a month towards groceries when bills are already climbing.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur summer program reaches out to students that aren\u2019t close to a school, in rural areas, or don\u2019t have transportation or access to get to school meals during the summer months,\u201d Nancy Brumbaugh, Second Harvest\u2019s Chief Food Service Officer, said.<\/p>\n
This is where Second Harvest steps in with its Summer Food Service Program.<\/p>\n
Brumbaugh said this is where volunteers pack nutritious meals and snacks that are delivered to camps and community partners, and, this year, to four rural sites as well.<\/p>\n
Second Harvest delivered more than 150,000 meals to kids last summer.<\/p>\n
This year the demand is expected to be even more.<\/p>\n
\u201cA great need,\u201d Brumbaugh said. \u201cA great need. That\u2019s about 3,100 meals a day we\u2019re producing to reach those pockets of underserved areas in our community. This year our goal is 3,500 meals a day.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can volunteer your time or donate to Second Harvest here: Volunteer – Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida<\/a><\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here<\/a> to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.<\/p>\n