Over 20 percent of school age children nationwide lived in poverty in 2013.
Summer vacation has started for most school children, and that means free summer lunch programs are also beginning across the state.
The non-profit Foodshare, which is the food bank for Hartford and Tolland Counties, helps promote the program in local communities.
Foodshare's Sarah Santora said that most summer food programs will begin next week, and volunteers have been working to let residents know. "The best way to do so would be to call the 211 info line,” she said. “Here in Connecticut, 211 has a full listing where kids can get a summer meal. There's also a texting option. If one texts ctmeals to 877877, it will pop up a list of sites near you that are serving a summer meal that day."
Kids 18 and under are eligible for the free meals, which are paid for by the federal USDA.
Santora said there are over 600 sites statewide that offer the program -- like churches and libraries. But she said only one in four Connecticut kids who are in need actually participate.
"If a community doesn't have the right number of sites, our hunger action teams are looking for increasing the number of places where a child can get a summer meal,” Santora said.
According to the U.S Department of Education, in 2013, over 20 percent of school age children lived in poverty. That's 10.9 million children nationwide.
This Saturday, the city of New Haven will hold a rally at Goffe Street Park at 1 pm to raise awareness about the summer meals program. The program will operate from June 29 through August 21 in the Elm City.
