Summertime is always a time when kids are out enjoying the sunshine, playing with their friends and loving it that they are out of school.  But summertime is also a time when some of the most vulnerable children go hungry.  To help combat childhood hunger this summer, Partners for Wichita has stepped up to help by “Filling the Gap”.   

The USDA Summer Food Program is scheduled to run thru July 29th.  School will not start until the week of August 15th.  That leaves a two week gap when children who depend on the Summer Feeding Program will be at risk of not getting enough to eat.

To help with “Filling the Gap”,  Partners for Wichita along with the Kansas Food Bank has identified five sites where lunchtime meals will be available.  Those locations are:  Atwater Neighborhood City Hall, Colvin Neighborhood City Hall, Evergreen Neighborhood City Hall, Stanley-Aley Neighborhood City Hall and St. Mark Church of God in Christ. 

Here’s how you can help!

• Volunteer at lunchtime at one of the centers.  Partners for Wichita will be coordinating contact information for each site and their needs.  263-0810 or via e-mail at partnersforwichita@cox.net.
• Make a monetary donation to help cover the cost of the meal.  Just $2 will cover one sack lunch for one child per day, or $20 will cover the entire two weeks.   We are planning on 500 children, so our goal is $10,000 to cover the cost of all the meals.  You can donate online with your credit card right now.
  

  
  

  Or you can mail a check to the Kansas Food Bank, 1919 E Douglas, Wichita KS 67211 and note Filling the Gap on the memo portion of the check.

• Donate fresh fruit, packaged snack bars or gifts (pencils for the upcoming school year, rulers, etc.) enough for a day’s participants.  (100 per site.)