Program to fight hunger over summer break doubles in size


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SPANISH FORK — Something important is missing from thousands of students' lives once summer break begins in Utah. And it is even more essential to a child's survival and success than reading, writing and math.

Summer is supposed to be a picnic in the park, swimming with friends and maybe reading a new book at the public library. "Ate lunch and now we are leaving to see a movie and try to take naps," says 6-year-old Brittney.

Brittney and her siblings' bellies are full now after a picnic lunch under the big shade trees at Spanish Fork's Library Park.

"Step right up, grab yourself a sandwich, make sure you get a chocolate milk," is a pitch Kent Nickles of the Utah Food Bank will repeat hundreds of times every weekday between now and mid-August. Nickles and Dave Hernandez operate a free lunch program out of a mobile pantry in Spanish Fork and Springville.

This summer for the first time, the Utah Food Bank has set up these free lunch distribution sites in four rural Utah County communities.

"What if summer break meant no regular meal, no ability to have access to food?" asks Ginette Bott, chief development officer for the Utah Food Bank.

Bott strongly believes "the small communities (Payson, Spanish Fork, Springville and Santaquin) in very rural settings really have a problem with hunger."

In fact, summer is a time of critical need for kids who normally get free breakfast and lunch throughout the school year.

Mom Esly Villatoro was elated to see the program start up in Spanish Fork in early June. "I see the food and I say thank-you. It's a very nice program," says Villatoro.

Villatoro and her daughter Sophia come each weekday to Library Park to have lunch and take part in activities inside the library. "When I go to another park or wherever, I never see food or drinks," says Villatoro.

Spanish Fork is the most popular free lunch site in Utah County, serving over 300 kids a day or 1,500 lunches a week. The Springville Splash Pad site comes in second with about 750 kids served each week, followed by Payson and Santaquin handing out approximately 650 lunches per week.

Bott is sure "there are more kids here (Utah County) who are challenged, who are hungry and who are having issues without that free breakfast and free lunch during the school year."

Bott knows hungry kids are often hidden amongst the smiling faces around them. That is why the Utah Food Bank doubled the number of meal sites this summer from 11 in 2015 to 25 this year … expecting to serve almost 50,000 lunches by the time school is back in session.

Kids 18 and younger who are eligible for the free lunches are grateful. Some even take time to share personal stories with Nickles. "We just wanted to thank you because my daddy got heart surgery and he couldn't work for like three months so the only one that's working is my mom. So, you're really helping us," says a young girl.

The Utah County sites are considered pilot projects, but Botts is hoping community leaders will step up to keep them going and growing for many summers to come.

Residents hope so too. "That's good people for the lunches here for the kids," says one mom. Villatoro agrees, saying, "I'm so happy for that and my daughter is so happy too!"

There are several ways for the public to help keep these programs operating throughout the summer and the rest of the year. Right now, the Food Bank is signing groups up for summer business food and fund drives, and virtual food drives are always in progress online.

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Sandra Olney

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