ATLANTA — In a matter of weeks, metro Atlanta students will be out of school for the year, a trend that typically triggers a spike when it comes to food insecurity.
Groups like Hope Atlanta are already anticipating extra help will be needed for kids and their families.
"Here at Hope Atlanta, we get about 3,000 calls for support a month," Elizabeth Banks, the chief programs officer for Hope Atlanta, told 11Alive. "During the summer that only increases."
Banks said during 2024, they're already seeing a drastic increase in calls for help related to housing insecurity and homelessness, which often means families are experiencing food insecurity, too.
Meanwhile, summer has long been a detrimental time when it comes to combatting childhood hunger, given the number of kids dependent on school meals.
In Georgia, approximately 1.1 million children receive free and reduced lunch, and extra grocery costs over the summer can easily add up for families, especially those on a budget. Yet, it's not health benefits at stake.
Research conducted for the "No Kid Hungry" campaign shows that providing access to healthy food year-round also offers educational and economic benefits, even helping curb learning loss.
"In the short-term, the programs can help mitigate summer weight gain, cognitive decline and summer learning loss for children from low-income families. In the long-term, they may help increase high school graduation rates and reduce susceptibility to chronic diseases, which are otherwise each accompanied by large potential costs to the children and their communities," their website states.
Meanwhile, Banks just hopes that local families know that groups like Hope Atlanta are standing ready to help with wraparound support.
"We are really committed to making sure our families achieve stability but self sufficiency," she added. "Food programs and summer lunch programs and our women's community kitchen are really critical to make sure all their basic needs are met."
11Alive also reached out to metro Atlanta school districts for what families need to know when it comes to summer meal options:
CLAYTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Clayton County Public Schools understands that providing scholars with healthy and nutritious meals directly impacts their academic and social development. As we wrap up the end of the 2023-2024 School Year, we are continuing to plan for summer meal sites across our county to support summer meal needs for our scholars. Once those locations have been finalized, we will provide them to all stakeholders!
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) School Nutrition Services Department understands the crucial role that school meals play in addressing food insecurities. To cater to the needs of students attending summer school and others residing in our communities, School Nutrition Services will continue to offer healthy meals throughout the district as a part of our annual Summer Meals Program.
During scheduled mealtimes, breakfast and lunch meals will be available free of cost to students attending summer school and other children in DeKalb County, regardless of whether they attend a DCSD school or not. All children 18 years and under and special needs students under 21 years of age can receive free meals.
Approximately 60 Summer Meals Program sites will be set up across DeKalb County. The final schedule, locations, and mealtimes will be posted on the DCSD website and communicated to all DCSD families and the media in May.
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
The Fulton County Schools Nutrition Program recognizes the important role that school meals play in combating childhood hunger. To meet the needs of our students and children in the community, we will continue to provide nutritious meals even when school is not in session.
Student favorite breakfasts and lunches will be available daily to all students enrolled in summer school at no cost. Additionally, select sites will be open for all children aged 18 and under to enjoy breakfast and lunch at no cost. Meals will be served at elementary and middle locations from June 5 - July 3, 2024. High School locations will be open from June 5 - July 11.
Here is a list of schools that will provide meals:
- Banneker HS
- Conley Hills ES
- Crabapple Crossing ES
- Crabapple MS
- Creekside HS
- Feldwood ES
- Global Impact Academy
- Gullatt ES
- Hapeville ES
- Haynes Bridge MS
- Hillside ES
- Ison Springs ES
- Lake Forest ES
- Langston Hughes HS
- Milton HS
- Mimosa ES
- Northwestern MS
- Oakley ES
- Palmetto ES
- Parklane ES
- Paul D. West MS
- Randolph ES
- Renaissance ES
- Renaissance MS
- Riverwood HS
- Roswell HS
- Sandy Springs MS
- Tri Cities HS
- Vickery Mill ES
- Woodland MS
This list will be updated as more districts respond. More resources from the Georgia Department of Education can be found here.