CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Pilot program to feed hungry kids on the weekend

Pilot program to feed hungry kids on the weekend

TYLER (KYTX) - It's a pilot program designed to keep the stomachs of hungry East Texas children filled during the weekend. CBS 19's Anthony Austin joins us to explain how a new partnership will make sure low-income children have nutritious meals seven day a week. 

During the summer, the East Texas Food Bank provides lunch for children in low-income communities Monday through Friday. Recently, the Food Bank saw a major need in these neighborhoods to keep kids fed during the weekend.

The lunch line is growing long at Andrews Park in Tyler. Kids big and small are waiting to receive a nutritious meal. "It's something to help us, help us get healthier."

Juan Fraga and his siblings depend on these warm lunches every weekday to fill their bellies.  But this Friday, Juan and his family are taking home a little extra.
 
A new pilot program is providing 150 kids. "It's in their portion sizes and it's easy for them to open as well."

...with biodegradable bags filled with healthy food for the weekend.

"Texas is one of the top three worst states when it comes to hunger and it's even worse when you look at statistics for kids, one in four kids doesn't know where their next meal is."

That's why Texas Energy Giant First Choice Power teamed up with the ETFB this summer. "What we really found is there's a gap during the summer, perhaps when kids need it most."

In an effort to close that gap, kids ages one to eighteen can take home bags filled with milk, fruit, juice, granola bars, and canned foods, such as beef stew and red beans and rice. "Not eating too much junk food over the weekend."

Food needed to keep these kids rolling all summer long.

Sites that will offer the weekend food bags on Fridays include Andrews Park in Tyler and Kingdom Harvest Ministries and Cornerstone Church in Lufkin. Lunch is served at noon. 

Through this program, the ETFB will distribute two thousand bags of nutritious food this summer. This summer pilot program is an extension of the backpack program that takes place during the school year.

During the school year, low-income children are eligible to take food home over the weekend. The program will feed about one million kids across Texas.