Summer Meals bring smiles

Roberto is dedicated to being the caretaker of his 6 grandkids and as he puts it, “wouldn’t change it for the world.” Summers can be difficult without school meals but with the help of summer feeding programs in his neighborhood, Roberto is able to be a hero for his grandkids.

Thanks to summer meals, his 11-year-old grandson, Elijiah, can also just have fun being a kid and doing what he loves: playing basketball and being on the trampoline!

In Oklahoma, 84% of children receive free or reduced lunch during the school year. For families facing hunger, summer can mean up to 90 days without school meals – too often, that can mean worrying about where their next meal is coming from.

“The Summer meals help, because I never have to worry about them eating. Summer meals make it easier to cope. Seeing the kids’ faces when they grab the bags, they’re smiling, they’re happy,” says Roberto.