Nearly 38,000 children face food insecurity in Fort Bend County, prompting local nonprofit Lunches of Love to expand its weekend meal program as schools resume classes.
The organization, which served almost 2,000 children weekly during summer, anticipates higher demand this academic year. Currently, more than 43 percent of Lamar CISD students qualify for free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs.
“The need is great, and you hope in this job you can be put out of a job, but you’re not. The need just keeps getting greater,” says Liz Ambriz, a volunteer with Lunches of Love.
Growing Weekend Hunger Challenge
According to Feeding America, approximately 100,000 Fort Bend County residents experience food insecurity, with children making up more than one-third of those affected.
Elizabeth Fairfield, from Lunches of Love, emphasizes the often-overlooked weekend nutrition gap. “We get some exposure during the summer when kids are out of school. You don’t realize those same kids are going back to school, and you don’t really think about what they’re doing on the weekends.”
Impact on Academic Performance
Rosemary Martinez, a pre-K teacher, witnesses firsthand how hunger affects classroom performance. “When a child comes in hungry, you can tell right away. They’re not paying attention,” Martinez explains. “And you do worry about them because if they’re struggling throughout the day with us, what’s going to happen on the weekends?”
Weekend Care Package Program
The organization’s weekend care package initiative serves as a crucial bridge between Friday lunch and Monday breakfast. Last year, Lunches of Love delivered nearly 2,500 weekend packages to 38 schools within the district.
“Families know that they only have x amount of dollars and they’ve got to keep the lights on,” says Denise Hlavaty, a retired Lamar CISD teacher. “They know during the day their kids will get breakfast and lunch at school, but that puts a strain on what’s going to happen over the weekend and in the evenings.”
Program Expansion
Starting September 3rd through the last day of school, Lunches of Love will distribute weekend packages containing breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The organization expects to serve more schools this year, expanding beyond the 38 schools reached last academic year out of the district’s 61 schools.
The success of these hunger relief efforts depends entirely on community support. “When these kids drive up to get their lunch and you see their faces, and they are so excited because they get lunch for the day, that’s what it’s all about,” Ambriz notes.
Check out the Lunches of Love website for more information.
