Letter from the Chief Executive Officer

Dear Supporter,

When that final bell rings on the last day of school, children are buzzing with excitement: Summer vacation!

But there’s less to celebrate if you’re hungry. Many children who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year suddenly lose access to those meals … all summer long.

That’s why we run a robust Summer Feeding Program, to make sure those children get what they need to stay healthy and strong. You’ll meet some of those children in this edition of The Link.

You’ll also meet a woman who knows what it’s like to experience childhood hunger, because she experienced it too. But someone reached out to her as a youngster, and today, she’s doing the same for children — as part of our Backpack Program team.

Your support makes these programs possible, keeping many of those children from facing hunger in the summer … and all year long.

On behalf of the children, I’m grateful for you. And I hope these stories inspire you to give again. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Stacy Dykstra, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer