For families relying on free or reduced-price school lunch, summer often leaves parents wondering: where will the next meal come from? Our Summer Bag Lunch program (SBLP) aims to bridge this gap and ensure no child in our community goes hungry during the nearly three-month break from school.
Since 2009, SBLP has provided meals for those students facing barriers to accessing food when school is out. These nutritious lunches are a lifeline for many families, offering both sustenance and peace of mind.
Led by our Food + Nutrition staff, an incredible team of dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to purchase, prepare, and distribute an average of 300 meals each day. This summer alone, we logged over 523 volunteer hours from 106 volunteers – including 87 individuals/families, 10 companies, 2 churches, 2 nonprofit partners, and 5 civic organizations. It truly takes a village!
With the CMS summer feeding program unavailable, the need for support grew significantly and we ended the season having distributed an impressive 14,512 bag lunches—an 11% increase over the previous year. This achievement was only possible thanks to the generosity of donors and the dedication of our staff and volunteers who made it their mission to get lunches out the door each day.
The Summer Bag Lunch program reminds us of the power of community. By coming together, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families right in here the Lake Norman area. Now more than ever, we need your support to keep these essential resources available. Please consider a donation to our Full Plate fundraiser and help us keep our neighbor’s plate’s full during every season.
