School districts and local organizations across the state are gearing up to make sure every child has enough food to eat this summer.
No Kid Hungry estimates that one in five children in New York face hunger.
The state Education Department says its summer programs will provide more than 20 million meals.
Albany city schools is one of the many districts with its own summer meals program.
"A summer meals budget grows by about $300 a month when kids aren’t in school," says Lisa Finkenbinder, food service director for the Albany City School District. "So if we can provide something that lessens that and helps our families get through, I think that’s tremendously beneficial."
Administrators say food insecurity is something they’re ready to fight head on.
Districts statewide say they have seen the increase in need and hope to be a part of the solution.
"Superintendents are seeing that need increase, especially during the pandemic, but now moving forward, we still know that food insecurity is something that is in our society," says Kaweeda Adams, superintendent of the Albany City School District.
Most district programs begin after the Fourth of July holiday weekend.