Tuesday, October 22nd 2013, 6:11 pm
Community organizations across Oklahoma City have teamed up to make sure student who normally receive free or reduced meals in school don't go hungry while they are out on break.
The Regional Food Bank has provided lunches and snacks to more than 15 locations in Oklahoma City during fall break.
To some, it may seem like an ordinary snack. But the reality across the Oklahoma City Public School District is that many students don't get enough food. In fact, 91 percent of students in Oklahoma City are on free or reduced meal plans.
Schools provide more than 51,000 meals to the kids each day. On break, those students may not get those free meals they rely on.
Tammy Coffee with the Downtown OKC YMCA works with the kids after school and on school breaks. She has seen the impact hunger can have.
"They're going to be hungry in the middle of the day, then they start, you know, breaking down, they lose focus on what teachers are trying to teach them. And even reading. If a story is being read and a child is hungry and aren't going to pay attention," Coffee explained.
She said that the partnerships with the Regional Food Bank become essential to feeding the kids when school is out. The Downtown YMCA program is open to the public so student that normally receive free or reduced lunches can come in and eat.
"Because of this, they are excelling a little bit more because they are getting the substance that they need," Coffee said.
The Regional Food Bank also send students in the "Backpack Program" home with extra food over the break to try and bridge some of the gap created when school is out for more than a weekend.
For more information on the Regional Food Bank, go to www.regionalfoodbank.org.
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