It’s in the Bag

It’s summertime in Texas, and you know what that means. Swimming pools, sunburns, rodeos, and lots of hungry kids. Surprised? You might not have realized it, but children who take part in their schools’ free and reduced-price lunch programs during the school year often face devastating hunger. Approximately 1.3 million families in Texas do not have enough food, and more than 22% of Texans under 18 face food insecurity on a daily basis. In some areas, like in the Rio Grande Valley, one in two kids does not know where his/her next meal is coming from.
Last summer, one of the most rewarding efforts of our Food First™ program was the creation of a summer weekend food distribution program for kids who take part in the free lunch program during the school year. This year, we’ve expanded the program to help kids through the following programs:

• Christian Community Action
• East Texas Food Bank – Parks
• Food Bank of Rio Grande Valley – Boys & Girls Clubs
• Galveston County Food Bank – Gleanings from the Harvest
• Capital Area Food Bank – Boys & Girls Club in Killeen
• West Texas Food Bank – Boys & Girls Club  

On Fridays, kids who attend summer programs through the local non-profits will be able to take home a bag of healthy food such as granola bars, canned lasagna, fruit cups, cereal, peanut butter and other non-perishable items to help them get through the weekend. We’ve even found biodegradable bags for the meals to go out in, so we can help families without hurting the environment.

Want to help out? First Choice Power will match donations you make to local food banks. Together, we can help fight hunger right here in Texas.