United Way of Onslow County’s ‘Summer Feeding’ program officially opened its doors today for the season.
The organization will serve hot meals to children Monday through Thursday, 11-1 at the Sandy Run Missionary Baptist Church from now until August 21st. On Thursdays, children will go home with the group’s Children Healthy Eating on Weekends {CHEW} bags with enough food to hold them over until the following Monday. Today they served 65 children.
United Way of Onslow County’s President Raquel Painter says it was made possible with the help of the church and a grant from the Eastern North Carolina Food Bank.
“We know the need is high for food insecure children right now,” Painter said. “United Way, in partnership with Onslow County Schools, knows there’s almost 50% children enrolled in the free and reduced lunch programs in our schools.”
“We recognize that it’s (food insecurity) a national issue,” Director of Outreach Ministries and Hope Connects Angela Lee said. “We know that at a minimum, 7.1 million children deal with food insecurity throughout the year and millions of families live in food insecurity as well.”
by: Olivia Wolfson
WNCT