Harvest Texarkana sponsors summer feeding program

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Families across the Texarkana region will have multiple opportunities to access free summer meals for children through programs sponsored by the Harvest Regional Food Bank.

Now through Aug. 1, the program will be offering free and nutritious meals to kids and teens aged 18 and under.

Life House Church & Outreach Center on the Arkansas-side is one of 10 sites distributing meals to kids through the summer feeding program.

“We bring the food, they bring the volunteers and the space, and together we make sure kids are fed,” said Camille Wrinkle, Harvest Regional Food Bank executive director.

Wrinkle says their goal is to make sure no child goes hungry this summer.

“We're hoping to have sites that can provide a about 40,000 to 60,000 meals. Last year, we were able to provide 40,000 meals through this program and we've had more interest this year and more sites call in,” said Wrinkle.

Some locations will offer hot meals which can be eaten on site, while others allow meals to be taken home.

“It's important for kids who maybe can’t go every day to a site. They can go one day and get 3 to 4 meals, and they can take it home with them,” explained Wrinkle.

There's no cost, no application, and no registration required.

Statistics show that one in five children in Arkansas face food insecurity.

“With Arkansas being number one in childhood hunger and Texas, also in the top ten. We want to make sure that even though school is out, these kids still have a place they can go and access meals,” said Wrinkle.

For a complete list of this summer's site locations and mealtimes, visit the Harvest Regional Food Bank website.