This blog post was written by Madeleine Vistica, United Way of King County food security program manager.

We at United Way of King County want to express our overwhelming gratitude for the generous Free Summer Meals Program sponsors, dedicated site supervisors, community volunteers, and passionate HungerCorps members who ensure kids have access to nutritious, free meals all summer long.

Across King County, Summer Meals Program sites have been enjoyed tortoise friend visit, fire truck tours, and lessons from Skate Like a Girl, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth, especially young women and transgender people to promote and implement equity through skateboarding.

Ryan Phi, Summer Meals Program site director at the Hunger Intervention Program, said, “Without the summer meals, a lot of families who rely on a free and reduced school meal program during the school year would be kind of left behind. They’d have to figure out how to fill those gaps on their own.”  

“Without the summer meals, a lot of families who rely on a free and reduced school meal program during the school year would be kind of left behind.

Ryan Phi, Summer Meals Program site director at the Hunger Intervention Program

In Washington state, only 15% of children who access free and reduced-price meals during the school year also access summer meals. That remaining 85% represents children vulnerable to food insecurity, and often chronic hunger, while school is out for the summer.

At United Way, we are committed to supporting access to free summer meals for kids and teens in order to combat summer hunger in our community.

In July, we joined communities across Washington in celebrating Free Summer Meals Programs across the state. Staff and volunteers of these programs create unique, fun experiences for kids who access free meals.

At one of the King County Summer Meals Program sites, two members of Skate Like a Girl taught a basketball court full of about 15 kids how to skate. They all geared up with elbow and knee pads, helmets, and skateboards of all sizes.

Lyla Sutphin, hunger intervention program intern, offered some insight on the impact these partnerships have on the kids: “They’re like, ‘Oh, I’m so excited to come here!’ Because not only do they get food, but they get to have activities with each other.”

“I love Skate Like a Girl,” Sutphin added. “All of the kids, you know, they get their meals before, and then they go skate. I skated with them once. And I was in the beginner class because I’ve never skated and I was with all of these three-year olds and four-year olds, and we were all kind of learning to skate together. And it was so fun.”

Skate Like a Girl is one of the many organizations that partner with the Free Summer Meals Program to host exciting activities throughout the summer, all of which draw in more kids. Many site directors and HungerCorps members report that their sites have the same kids returning day after day. This speaks to the opportunities and experiences created through the hard work of the folks who bring Summer Meals Programs to Washington kids!

Visit freesummermeals.org or text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 for more information about sites near you.