Friday, 13 November 2009 17:18 Last Updated on Friday, 13 November 2009 18:01 Written by Nick

Watch the Video

The Salvation Army Presents: Summer Feeding Program from Lindsey Fleeman on Vimeo.

Helping hungry students and their families get through the summer.

Over the past two years, Lee County has seen a dramatic increase in the number of students on the free or reduced lunch program. This year, nearly 60% of all Lee County students are enrolled in this pivotal program. As summer approached, The Salvation Army, additional Lee County feeding agencies and The United Way knew something needed to be done to help these students and their families. From the partnership of The Lee County School District, The Salvation Army, Harry Chapin Food Bank, CCMI and the United Way, the Summer Feeding Program was born.

For nine weeks this summer, area agencies visited five schools selected by the School District on a weekly basis to deliver service to hundreds of families. The Salvation Army provided hot meals to families from the Canteen, our mobile feeding unit. Equipped to serve 500 meals at a time or 1,500 meals in one day, we knew this would be the right tool to serve the hundreds of registered families. CCMI provided a mobile food pantry with non-perishable items and Harry Chapin brought in their mobile refrigerated truck to provide perishable items like meat and dairy. Together, the partnership served over 4,000 families with food for their cupboards and dinner tables.

As with all Salvation Army services, this opportunity would not have been possible without the incredible assistance our Army of Volunteers. Over 100 volunteers served 580 hours to see over 9,200 hot meals served to families in need.