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Chef Lorena Garcia is one of several trusted voices speaking out in support of No Kid Hungry and its mission to help feed kids during the summer — a time when many families struggle to replace the meals served at school, making it the hungriest time of year for many children.
"Food is more than nourishment, it is a source of joy, connection and community," said Garcia in a press release about the program. Garcia is a chef/partner at Chica restaurants at The Venetian Las Vegas and in Miami, Florida’s MiMo district. "As a chef, I know every meal counts, especially for kids. That's why I'm thrilled to join No Kid Hungry once again and do my part so that every child has the joyful summer they deserve."
Public service announcements and social media messages are among the ways Garcia — along with actor and producer Eugenio Derbez, TV host and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, and Ayesha Curry, co-founder of Eat. Learn. Play. — are promoting awareness of No Kid Hungry's summer resource hub that includes information on how families can access programs to help feed their families.
Due to bipartisan legislation in 2022, rural communities, often impacted by transportation barriers, can now serve meals to kids by offering meal delivery or pick-up services. In addition, a permanent grocery benefit program called Summer EBT or SUN Bucks, provides eligible families in most states with an extra $120 for each school-aged child to help with grocery costs over the summer months. This year, 37 states, Washington DC, 5 territories, and 5 Tribal nations plan to offer Summer EBT.
Before the new programs, only 2.8 million kids were accessing summer meals. In 2024, its first year of implementation, preliminary data shows that Summer EBT reached more than 18 million kids. With an estimated 13 million more kids to go, No Kid Hungry is working to expand Summer EBT to all 50 states in future years and providing grant funding to ensure rural summer meals options successfully reach more communities and that both programs reach as many kids as possible. Together, the new programs could help as many as 31 million children in the U.S.
No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. NoKidHungry.org.
Parents and caregivers can visit NoKidHungry.org/Help or NoKidHungry.org/Ayuda to learn more.
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