Summer should be a time for kids to learn, play, and enjoy their break from school. But for many families across Tennessee, summer can also bring challenges when school meals are no longer available.
That’s why No Kid Hungry Tennessee is working alongside local schools and community organizations to help ensure children continue to have access to healthy meals throughout the summer months.
This year, No Kid Hungry Tennessee is supporting five summer meal sponsors with over $46,000 in grant funds as they expand rural non-congregate summer meal service in communities across the state. These sponsors are helping reach more children in rural areas through innovative approaches such as additional grab-and-go meal distributions, extended meal delivery routes, and multi-day meal pickups that make it easier for families to access food where they live.
The following organizations are receiving support this year:
- Bristol Tennessee City Schools
- Cheatham County Schools
- Fentress County Schools
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeastern Tennessee
- South Central Human Resource Agency
While every community’s approach looks different, each sponsor shares the same goal: making sure more kids have access to nutritious meals all summer long.
See How Sponsors Are Expanding Summer Meals This Year
Across Tennessee, our grantees are finding new ways to reach more children, serve additional communities, and strengthen existing programs. Here are just a few examples of what that expansion looks like this summer.
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Bristol Tennessee City Schools is expanding its non-congregate meal service in Sullivan County this summer. Building on its existing summer meal program, the district is adding three additional weeks of meal distribution and introducing a second billboard on the opposite side of town to help increase awareness among families. The district also began offering seven-day meal kits, making it easier for children to access meals throughout the week.
Compared to last year, Bristol Tennessee City Schools is providing a longer service period, increasing outreach efforts, and offering more convenient meal options for families in rural areas.
Cheatham County Schools
Cheatham County Schools, another sponsor expanding its summer meal operations, is working to increase access for children across the county. After launching a smaller rural non-congregate program last summer, the district is significantly expanding its efforts this year, having a projected service volume of nearly 90,000 meals.
Fentress County Schools
Fentress County Schools is a returning summer meal sponsor extending its meal service by two additional weeks. Similar to last year’s meal service, they will continue providing seven days’ worth of meals at two distribution sites. The expanded schedule helps ensure children have consistent access to nutritious meals later into the summer.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeastern Tennessee
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeastern Tennessee is expanding its summer meal program across Northeast Tennessee, including new service in Carter and Johnson counties. Working closely with local school partners, the organization is adding at least 10 new meal sites and strengthening outreach and marketing efforts to ensure families know where and when meals are available. The food bank also plans to continue meal service throughout the summer as the local school-based programs end in June.
South Central Human Resource Agency
South Central Human Resource Agency is a brand new sponsor that launched in Lincoln County, bringing rural non-congregate meal service to a community that previously had no option. With support and guidance from Southwest Human Resource Agency, an experienced Tennessee summer meals sponsor, the organization is operating one site that provides seven days’ worth of meals to children in the county.
These examples represent just a snapshot of the work happening across Tennessee this summer. No Kid Hungry Tennessee is proud to support these efforts and help communities build stronger summer meal programs that reach more children where they are.
