When school’s out, hunger doesn’t take a break. For many Tennessee kids, especially in rural areas, summer can be one of the hungriest times of the year. No Kid Hungry Tennessee awarded over $215,000 in grants to 15 schools and community organizations working to make sure more kids get the meals they need.
This summer, No Kid Hungry Tennessee is providing grant funds to summer meal programs focused on expanding access to rural non-congregate summer meals, especially in areas facing persistent or very high poverty. Whether delivering more meals directly to homes or setting up additional grab-and-go sites in hard-to-reach places, sponsors can use this funding to reach more kids in more ways. Our grant funding goes to pay for everything from refrigerators to delivery trucks – whatever schools and communities need to feed kids.
This year, the following school districts and community organizations received grants in Tennessee:
- Athens-McMinn Young Men’s Christian Association
- Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains
- Bristol City Schools
- Dickson County Schools
- Fentress County Schools
- Giles County Schools
- Giving Youth A Chance Initiative
- Henry County School System
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeastern Tennessee
- Southwest Human Resource Agency
- Trudy’s Kids Cafe
- Van Buren County Schools
- YMCA of East Tennessee
- YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South
- YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga
These summer meal sponsors in Tennessee are already making an impact in their communities. Fentress County Schools is one of many sponsors that stand out, where rural non-congregate meal service will be available for the first time under Sheri York, School Nutrition Director and former School Principal who recognized the growing need for summer meals. “Summer meals are a service that families could really use,” York says. “While coordinating the program is a lot of work, we know it will be worth it in the end.” As the summer season continues, York and her team continue to learn, adapt, and readjust as necessary to ensure no child goes hungry this year. This summer, No Kid Hungry Tennessee is happy to support the expansion of rural non-congregate summer meals across the state.
For more information on this year’s grant awards, review the official press release on our website.
