Summer is usually the most difficult time to get food to children, because when they’re not in school, they miss out on the natural distribution system that’s already in place. So food banks and pantries need to come up with other methods to get meals to children and families, who are spread far and wide.
But last summer, due to COVID-19, some federal guidelines and restrictions were loosened — or even lifted — to make it easier to get food to those in need.
Normally, children must be on site — at a school or summer camp, for instance — to qualify to receive food benefits. But since gathering in person was often impossible during the pandemic, waivers were put in place to allow organizations like the Regional Food Bank to deliver food in less restrictive ways. For example, parents could pick up meals for their children at drop-off points.
Buses started making the rounds ... but instead of picking up students for school, they were
dropping off food for children and families. The end result was a much wider reach than usual — and distributing much more food to many more children.
In 2019, before the pandemic, the Regional Food Bank distributed 194,781 summer meals. In the summer of 2020, we distributed 269,663 meals — a 38% increase in number of meals provided, and the second-most meals we’ve ever distributed in the summer.
“We’re able to serve more children as a result of these waivers,” said Ryan Abernathy, senior director of childhood hunger at the Regional Food Bank.
Those waivers remain in place, which means we could possibly feed even more children this summer. The waivers extend into 2022, also loosening normal school-year restrictions, which means we might be able to feed even more kids during the school year.
“It’s a win-win all around,” said Abernathy.
In scary and uncertain times when the need was greater than ever, by working together, we created a big upside for children facing hunger — and their families — throughout Oklahoma!
Thank you for making it possible to get more nutritious meals to more children and families!
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