Home » Summer meals program receives $40,000 in funding

Summer meals program receives $40,000 in funding

Program helps low-income children

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 9, 2015) — Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear today announced $40,000 in funding to the Kentucky Association of Food Banks to increase the number of low-income children receiving summer meals through the Summer Food Service Program.

foodThe summer feeding program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.

Beshear’s office is utilizing $20,000 from the State Planning Fund to match a $20,000 private grant from Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger.

In 2014 in Kentucky less than 8 out of every 100 low-income children who ate lunch during the school year ate summer meals, well below the national average of 16 out of every 100.

The Summer Food Service Program will provide thousands of free meals and snacks to students 18-years-old and under at hundreds of locations throughout Kentucky.

The Kentucky Department of Education is holding several events around the state to help raise awareness about the program, including:

  • June 10, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Valley Branch, Lexington Public Library, 2185 Versailles Rd., Lexington
  • June 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, Barbourville Pool, 500 Allison Ave., Barbourville