Hunger never takes a vacation

Little “Johnny” or “Janey” in your neighborhood might be acting out or seem like they’re trying to get more attention from you or your children this summer because they’re hungry.

Summer hunger for many children in South Snohomish and North King County isn’t uncommon, said Linda Nageotte, president and CEO of Food Lifeline in Shoreline.

“It’s a whole different set of summer activities and concerns for kids who are hungry when all they’re thinking about is eating,” Nageotte said.

Millions of children across the nation rely on free or reduced breakfast and/or lunch nine months out of the year and are going hungry for the other three, Nageotte said.

“It can also make the children less prepared to face school in the fall,” she said.

She added, being hungry impairs their ability to make friends and learn.

“If we can just make sure they’re adequately fed, it will give them a chance,” Nageotte said.

This is why some area foodbanks are currently campaigning especially for this cause and other banks are still in need because summer is a typically slow giving time of the year in general.

Concern For Neighbors Foodbank in Mountlake Terrace currently is having its “Milk Money” campaign to raise funds to purchase extra milk, ground beef and eggs to give out to supplement the diet of school kids who aren’t getting school lunches during the summer. For a $10 donation, foodbank officials can buy three gallons of milk, a pound of hamburger and a dozen eggs, with a bit of change left over.

“So people can really make a difference for a family with a small donation,” said Joan Henjum, director of the foodbank.

At Hopelink in Shoreline they are having “Hoops for Hope” formerly known as the “Brown Bag Brigade” which also supplements the foodbank when free or reduced lunches aren’t available from Shoreline and Lake Forest Park schools.

According to Sara Palmer, spokesperson for Hopelink, Hoops for Hope has two parts. The first is within the schools. At the end of this school year, Palmer said, area schools raised $40,000 with coin drives for this campaign. The second part is still ongoing and it is with local businesses.

“Businesses have fund or food drives and have competitions within departments or whatever they want to do to help the food bank,” Palmer said. To join this campaign contact Ben Martinka at 425-869-7835 or go to hope-link.org.

The Lynnwood, Edmonds and North Helpline foodbank in Lake City, which also serves Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, aren’t having any specific campaigns right now but are in need of both food and financial donations.

Peggy Kennedy, director of the Edmonds foodbank, said “we are down right now but it’s not surprising this time of year.”

Rita Anderson, executive director of North Helpline said she has “absolutely” seen a lot more children at the foodbank this summer.

“These fundraisers like in Mountlake Terrace are so important,” Nageotte said. “In the summertime lines grow longer and longer as these families depend on the generosity of strangers to feed their kids.”