As food insecurity rates remain alarmingly high across Wisconsin, especially among children, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is kicking off its annual Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer campaign, in partnership with Meijer. Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer is a three-month fundraising and awareness campaign aimed at providing nutritious meals to kids in Eastern Wisconsin while school is out for summer break.

When school ends for summer, thousands of children throughout Eastern Wisconsin lose access to daily school-provided meals. For families already facing financial strain, this loss of access often leads to increased food insecurity. The Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer campaign helps bridge that gap by supporting the nearly 600 hunger relief partners and community programs across 35 counties that provide essential nutrition to children and families during times of the year when the need is greatest.

According to hunger statistics from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report, 1-in-6 children in Eastern Wisconsin do not know where their next meal is coming from. The need is even greater in Milwaukee County, where 1-in-4, or nearly 25% of kids, are currently facing hunger. As grocery prices and household costs remain high, many families are increasingly turning to neighborhood food pantries for additional support. The campaign encourages supporters to make monetary donations to help Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin stock shelves at local pantries, meal programs, and shelters this summer.

Hunger can have devastating, long-term consequences for children. Kids who lack enough healthy food face a higher risk of chronic health conditions, are more likely to struggle in school, and may face increased social and behavioral challenges. A monetary donation to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin through the Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer campaign can help provide nutritious meals to children throughout the summer months. This year, supporters can make an even greater impact thanks to a generous matching gift from the Schmerein Heaney Family Fund and the Heaney Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. Every dollar donated during the campaign will be matched – effectively doubling every gift made.

“Our pantry partners see a drastic increase in need every summer once school ends because families have lost a reliable source of nutritious meals,” said Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin President and CEO, Monique Kelley. “Summer hunger is real, and we need the help of our generous community to ensure children across Eastern Wisconsin have consistent access to the meals they need.”

Meijer’s support of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer campaign reflects a shared commitment to ensuring every child has access to the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive. As a long-standing community partner, Meijer plays an essential role in expanding the reach of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s work – demonstrating that addressing childhood hunger requires businesses and nonprofits to work hand in hand to create meaningful change.

“Hunger relief is at the heart of our purpose at Meijer, and we are committed to ensuring our communities have access to nutritious food year-round,” said Meijer’s Director of Community Partnerships & Giving, Melissa Conway. “While the end of the school year usually marks the start of summertime fun, for families whose children receive free meals during the school year, it can also be a time of uncertainty. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin continues to be a wonderful partner, and we’re proud to support their Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer campaign so families can access the nutrition they need all summer long.”

Beyond its summer campaign efforts, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is also collaborating with school districts and parents in its service area to expand and enhance the way summer meals are provided to kids. Additionally, the organization continues to support the implementation of innovative programs in rural school districts to support families with limited access to grocery stores. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is steadily working to expand its online ordering program, Mindful Meals, to reach more families through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. The program helps provide culturally relevant foods to Club families, sourced from local retailers.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin distributes over 40 million pounds of food annually across 35 counties. Fundraising campaigns like Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer are essential to sustaining this level of support during periods of increased need – particularly during summer months when traditional safety nets such as school meals are unavailable. To learn more about how to support children facing hunger right here in Eastern Wisconsin through this campaign, visit FeedingAmericaWI.org/Summer.