\u2014No Kid Hungry is pleased to announce Patti Bilbrey, Director of Nutrition Services for Scottsdale Unified School District, in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a 2026 Summer Hunger Hero. This annual celebration of those who go above and beyond in efforts to end childhood hunger shines a light on extraordinary individuals and agencies from across the nation. This year\u2019s list of heroes includes ten honorees from nine states\u2014a diverse array of celebrants, but all united in their commitment to ending childhood hunger during the summer months, and throughout the year.<\/span><\/p>\nSummer is well known as the hungriest season of the year for children, as that is when free and reduced-price school meals disappear for the summer break. This means kids miss out on a consistent source of nutrition, and families\u2019 already tight budgets are stretched even further. Summer programs like Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, and Summer Meals can provide a true lifeline for families by filling the nutritional gap for children during the break. The 2026 Summer Hunger Heroes\u2019 work focuses on these programs.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen School Nutrition Director Patti Bilbrey saw the opportunity to bring a non-congregate summer meals program to the Scottsdale area, she joined forces with Scottsdale Community College and together, they forged a flexible program that allowed families to get up to a weeks\u2019 worth of ready to eat, frozen or shelf-stable food for their children. All told, Scottsdale Unified District was able to serve 135,000 meals to families in the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cPatti Bilbrey exemplifies the work of No Kid Hungry,\u201d said Allison Dela Cuesta, associate director of No Kid Hungry. \u201cShe is out and about in the community doing what we work and advocate for. But she takes it to the next level. She goes above and beyond and it\u2019s the kids that benefit. It\u2019s always about the kids.\u201d<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_highlighted_text color_type=”regular” text_color=”#f26722″ style=”full_text” highlight_expansion=”default” text_direction=”default”]\n