Study: 1 in 4 children face food insecurity in Indiana

Summer months may mean fun in the sun for some families but for many of them, it also means a tougher time finding meals.

When school lets out for the summer, many children will no longer receive at least one free or low-cost meal at school. This week, several locations in Marion County launched their Summer Servings program to help fill that gap.

"It helps out a lot because, you know, in the summer time they want to eat more and when they were in school they were having lunch and stuff so that's how it helps out," said parent Keyosha Lee.

Lee brought her children to the new Summer Servings location at Calvary Temple at 30th Street and Post Road.

Volunteers started serving the free meals Monday and will be at Calvary Temple's Family Life Center through July 20. Emily Weikert Bryant with Feeding Indiana's Hungry said the program is especially important now, as a new report shows one in four Hoosier children does not know where they will get their next meal.

In Marion County, more than 20 percent of children are considered food insecure, according to the study by Feeding America.

In Hamilton County, 14.5 percent of kids are food insecure and the report finds about 358,000 children across the state at risk of hunger.

When it comes to the numbers, Summer Servings volunteer Elizabeth Rigsy said she sees it on the children’s' faces when they walk through the doors and are immediately given the choice of chocolate or regular milk.

"I wouldn't say that it surprises me with the economy and the times and the way things are,” said Rigsy. “I'm just happy that we can serve and offer this opportunity to children.”

The Calvary Temple location serves from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Meals are free for children 18 and younger. Adults can pay $3 for the same meal.

Summer Servings partners with Gleaners Food Bank as part of the Indy Hunger Network. Families can also call 211 to find resources in their area.

For more information on Summer Servings, click here.