Summer is coming. Help fill the ‘hunger gap’ too many Florida students will face | Opinion

Many may feel an obligation to help their community, but, unfortunately, only some act upon it. The key to starting is that moment when one asks, “How can I help?” and being willing to step up and address one of the many challenges neighbors and loved ones are confronting each day.

In South Florida, one of the greatest struggles many face is the inability to access nutritious meals on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this insecurity extends disproportionately to our most vulnerable — seniors and children.

At Meals on Wheels South Florida, our mission is to end hunger across all ages, with kindness, dignity and compassion. We have a wide variety of programs and services designed to meet the needs of our community and make a difference in the lives of South Florida seniors. Our partnerships, like those with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), allow us to do even more through programs like Summer BreakSpot, which offers balanced breakfasts, lunches snacks or dinner at no cost for children 18 and under.

Summer BreakSpot is a federally funded program established to fill the summer hunger gap some kids face. Many of the children who benefit from the program only have access to meals during the school year, and when summer comes around and school is out, that direct line to their next meal is cut. Summer BreakSpot relies on businesses and organizations throughout Florida to serve as partners in helping to get healthy meals to Florida’s children at a time of the year when they need it most. Partnering with Summer BreakSpot has been an important step in working to further the difference we make in the communities we serve.

The way it works is simple: FDACS covers the cost of the meals and administrative expense and, as a Summer BreakSpot Sponsor, we build a local network of meal sites that can offer the meals to these children while schools are closed. The professionals at FDACS also provide comprehensive sponsor training before the summer starts.

Partnering with these organizations not only enhances community resources and impact; it also increases our value as a service organization — and our mission of helping our South Florida neighbors of all ages. We want to show the community around us that we are here for them, and we want to encourage confidence in us and in those organizations with a mission centered around supporting those in need.

I encourage every one to ask, “How can I help?” Visit SummerBreakSpot.org to learn more about the program and becoming a sponsor.

Willingness to help goes a long way, but following through is what makes the difference. I have seen how this program has positively affected thousands of lives. The reality is that far too many people will always face the challenge of food insecurity. But when we can band together to face it head on, we have the greatest chance of rising above it.

Mark Adler is executive director of Meals on Wheels South Florida.

This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 4:45 PM.