SIKESTON -- Even though school is out, local children can still receive consistent, nutritious meals this summer.
In Southeast Missouri, 24 percent of children go to bed hungry, according to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. Often times the only nutritious meals children receive are through their school food programs.
When summer arrives, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services partners with area churches and organizations to provide the Summer Food Service Program to area youth ages 18 and under.
Local volunteers offer free lunch -- and breakfast in some places -- to help bridge the consistent meals-gap between the regular school year and summer.
The Summer Food Service Program kicked off Tuesday in New Madrid County and will run through Aug. 6.
"It's a great asset to the youth because school is out, and a large percentage of youth probably are not eating as healthy as when school is in session," said Earl Grissom, pastor of Life Changes Restoration Ministry in Lilbourn and New Madrid and the New Madrid County's summer food program director.
Without the program, Grissom said he thinks many children would drink sodas and eat junk food.
"This is a supplement to make sure they get a healthy meal to fill the gap when school is out for the summer," Grissom said.
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