Hopelink launches Annual End Summer Hunger Campaign to feed local kids

When the bell rings for summer break, more than 16,000 kids in north and east King County stand to lose something most people take for granted: a regular healthy, nutritious breakfast or lunch. For local kids who are part of their school’s free and reduced-price meal programs, summer vacation can mean an end to knowing for sure when they will eat again.

Hopelink CEO Lauren Thomas said the consequences of this gap extend far beyond the discomfort of going to bed hungry.

“We know that when children don’t have access to nutritious food when they are young, they sometimes face developmental challenges that can affect them for the rest of their lives,” Thomas said.  

“We know that hungry children get sick more often – and they are hospitalized more often. And we know that hungry children have more social and behavioral problems because they can’t adapt as effectively to stressful situations. But we also know that hungry kids often lack the stamina to just be kids, which – when you’re a child during the summer months – can be the most important thing of all.  

“Hopelink’s End Summer Hunger program is a local effort to ensure that children living in our community have the best possible opportunity to grow up healthy and prepared to learn while their parents are working to get back on their feet.”

End Summer Hunger – running now through August – is Hopelink’s annual grassroots campaign aimed at ensuring that local kids in low-income families have enough to eat while they’re on summer break. The fundraising drive brings together local businesses, organizations, schools and individuals to help provide food for kids who receive free and reduced-fee breakfasts and lunches during the school year. Over the next several months, Hopelink is encouraging groups and individuals alike to get involved with the campaign.

For more information on how to get involved in Hopelink’s End Summer Hunger campaign, contact Emily DeWitt or visit the webpage. 

For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425.869.6000 or visit the webpage.