Lunchtime at a Summer Meal Site with Congressman Hoyer

I had the chance to interact with hard-working representatives from Food Research and Action Center, Maryland Hunger Solutions, Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Out of School Time Network, the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children, and others who are all working towards the same goal through the Maryland Partnership to End Childhood Hunger that Share Our Strength and Governor O’Malley worked together to establish.

We sat in a circle in the housing community’s office center with Hoyer to discuss the issue at hand: childhood hunger. Emphasis was placed on the Summer Food Service Program because we are currently in the summer months, but the discussion also incorporated free and reduced priced breakfasts and lunches during the school year, and after-school, weekend, and holiday feeding programs. The issues of transportation, awareness and the number of meal sites were central to the discussion.

When compared to all other states, Maryland had the second highest rate of improvement in summer meal program participation from 2008 to 2009. While commending the efforts and dedication of the hard-working individuals sitting in the circle, Congressman Hoyer demonstrated his concern for the children who are eligible for free and reduced priced meals during both the school year and during summer months, who are not receiving them. It was reassuring and inspiring to hear first-hand that Hoyer prioritizes child nutrition to the same degree that I do.

Thanks to the Maryland Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, members of the private and public sectors are able to pull together the limited resources they have in order to provide meals to as many children as possible. In hope of passing the Child Nutrition Reauthorization with increased funding, more kids will be reached, more meals will be served, and more nutritious food will be consumed.

Representative Hoyer made this visit to put a face to childhood hunger and to highlight the importance of creating awareness of this issue to the American public and other congressman. There is still some time and we strongly urge you to contact your members of Congress to support Child Nutrition Reauthorization.