Nutrition and Education Come Together During the Summer
As schools let out and summer arrives, many children lose access to the regular meals they depend on during the school year. To help fill this gap, the Food Bank’s Impact team steps in with a mission that goes beyond simply providing food. Through the Summer Food Service and Nutrition Education programs, the Impact team helps ensure children continue receiving meals, while also learning about the benefits of making healthy eating choices.
Although these programs become more challenging to manage in the summer, the Impact team consistently finds ways to successfully meet the nutritional needs of children while school is out.
One of the ways they manage this during the summer is by visiting libraries. Many of the libraries in the area hold summer reading for kids, so with the children gathered there, it presents a great opportunity to conduct Nutrition Education.
“It just depends on where the children are,” explains Vice President of Impact Jordyn Mancuso. “For instance, when they go to the library, we try to do Nutrition Education when it coincides with their reading pop-ups, where the librarian reads to them and holds fun activities. One of our featured programs is ‘Pick a Better Snack.’ Each week, we choose a different fruit or vegetable–like apples, for example–and teach the kids about why they are good for them, health benefits, and some fun facts about the fruit or vegetable.”
The Food Bank plays a crucial role in bridging the nutritional gap during the summer by not only distributing meals but also making nutrition a learning experience. While mobile pantries and summer meal sites deliver physical nourishment, the Impact team ensures these efforts are complemented by education that promotes long-term, healthy habits. This dual approach helps families stretch their budgets and encourages children to make informed food choices, even outside of structured school environments.
By integrating nutrition education into meal distribution programs, the Impact team transforms a moment of need into an opportunity for growth. Children don’t just receive a meal, they learn why certain foods are better for their bodies, how to recognize healthier snacks, and how those choices affect their energy and well-being. This approach equips kids with the tools they need to build a healthier future, making the Food Bank’s work both immediately impactful and sustainably meaningful.
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