Baltimore County Schools Launch Summer Meal Program to Address Food Insecurity Among Children
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. — In an effort to combat the growing issue of food insecurity among children during the summer months, Baltimore County Public Schools has initiated a summer meal program aimed at providing free lunches to children under the age of 18. The initiative commenced on Monday and will take place Monday through Friday until August 15, with the exception of July 4.
The summer meal program targets communities where a significant portion of students—at least 50%—qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the academic year, as determined by federal guidelines. This effort is particularly crucial as many families depend on school-based meal services to alleviate hunger while school is in session.
“Over the summer, food insecurity increases,” stated Conni Strittmatter, youth and family engagement manager for the Baltimore County Public Library. “Many families rely on access to food at schools during the school year. We work with Baltimore County Public Schools to bring the meals into the library so families can access those meals.” This collaborative approach aims to bridge the gap during the summer, a time when access to nutritious meals can often diminish for vulnerable families.
This year, 16 public libraries in Baltimore County are participating in the program, an increase from the 12 libraries involved last year. Notably, the Cockeysville library has joined the initiative for the first time, highlighting an expanding network of meal distribution points designed to meet the community’s needs.
Strittmatter highlighted the extent of the issue, noting, “This whole county has around 75 percent of families who qualify for free and reduced meals during the school year. So, we know that not only is this a new need here in Cockeysville, but it is a widespread need throughout the entire county.” This statistic underscores the urgency of addressing food insecurity in the region, especially during the summer when school meals are unavailable.
In addition to the summer meal program, Baltimore County Schools are implementing other supportive measures, such as weekly food box distributions at schools located in more rural areas. These efforts aim to ensure that every child has access to nutritious food, even outside of the traditional school calendar.
For a comprehensive list of participating libraries and additional details about the summer meal program, residents can visit the Baltimore County Public Schools website.
