HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – As schools are letting out for the summer, hunger and food insecurity is taking center stage for many families across western Massachusetts. Without access to free school meals, efforts are underway to help.
“We serve anyone from any community. If you are hungry and if you need food or if you need help easing the financial burden of feeding your family, you can come see us,” said Jennie Adamczyk, executive director of Providence Ministries.
Programs to help fight hunger and food insecurity across western Massachusetts are more important than ever to ensure no families are left unfed this summer as they typically see an increase in demand around this time of year when children are out of school. Adamczyk told Western Mass News more about their free meal program called Kate’s Kitchen, which offers homecooked meals to anyone who comes in.
“So typically, the demographic of people we serve will be those who are impoverished or unhoused. However, with the economy being the way that it is, we have seen an increase in people needing our services who have never necessarily needed services before. That includes families and children, especially when school is out during vacations or through the summer, so we’re really happy to be able to offer two meals a day for people to help ease the burden for a lot of families,” Adamczyk explained.
According to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, approximately 76,967 people experienced some type of food insecurity in 2023 with Hampden County seeing the most children impacted in the area. Adamczyk highlighted the importance of why programs like theirs are a major support for those in need.
“They feel relief. It’s one of those things where, you know, I have four children, so for me, you know, it’s hard. Groceries are expensive. Where I was spending one amount a year ago, I’ve almost doubled that now, so I think it offers a sense of relief for families to know that they can come somewhere, safe somewhere where people are friendly and they can have food,” Adamczyk added.
Another organization based out of Springfield said they are dedicated to lessening the food gap each summer by increasing access to free meals for kids and teens. Lydia Rodriguez, director of operations and communications for the Sodexo Homegrown Springfield’s Summer Eats program, told us that her organization is dedicated to making meals easily accessible to children and teens throughout the area.
“Springfield Public Schools and Homegrown Springfield Sodexo provides Summer Eats program services here in Springfield throughout the summer and we operate at over 73 different locations across the city from schools from summer school locations to city parks to community centers to community organizations and just all across the city, we’re serving meals to as many students as we can,” Rodriguez said.
She also told Western Mass News about some of the upcoming events where kids and teens can enjoy a free meal this summer.
“Well, there’s lots of fun at our Summer Eat sites throughout Springfield, so on June 20, we actually begin our food truck, so our food truck hits the road and goes to over four different park locations each day Monday through Friday, serving lunchtime meals from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then on July 8, that expands to over seven different locations at the food truck and there’s fun activities, giveaways, and we make sure that when families come and visit our Summer Eats locations, they’re able to have a great time and just have fun out in the community,” Rodriguez explained.
Copyright 2024. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.
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