Smithville ISD working to keep kids fed this summer

In Smithville ISD, about 50% of students are on free or reduced meals, so when summer arrives volunteers and No Kid Hungry Texas go into action.

SMITHVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — During the summer months, many students across the nation deal with hunger.

When school is out and meals aren't guaranteed, children can find themselves going days without proper meals.

Things like a lack of transportation, fuel costs, or families facing hard times are just a few of the barriers that can contribute to hunger.

In Smithville ISD, about 50% of students are on free or reduced meals, so when summer arrives, volunteers and No Kid Hungry Texas go into action.

According to No Kid Hungry Texas, kids in rural areas are especially at risk for hunger during the summer months, due to the barriers posed by traditional "congregate" summer meal programs, where meals are required to be consumed on-site.

The group says new federal flexibilities allow for "non-congregate" meal service in rural areas, meaning meals can be taken home, acquired in bulk, or in some cases, delivered.

KXAN followed along to watch volunteers pack meals and deliver them to families in need.

"Over here is our assembly line," said Candy Biehle, child nutrition director with Smithville ISD. "This is where they start to put together all the bags"

Biehle is in charge of making sure her students get fed during the summer.

"We go twice a week, we deliver on Mondays and Thursdays and it gives them enough meals for 7 days," said Biehle.

Biehle says the district had 983 children on free or reduced meals last year, which is about 50% of students in the district.

Smithville ISD Superintendent Cheryl Burns says in the summer some of these kids can struggle to find a meal and rely on these meals.

"On Monday's when we go out to the sites, we have children waiting at the 11 o'clock hour to be able to eat because they are hungry," said Burns.