With the end of the school year, local children are in real threat of hunger. Children will no longer have access to the free and reduced lunch and breakfast programs available throughout the school year. Households that are already struggling financially find the loss of these programs to be an additional hardship for their families. Worried parents are asking for help.

Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services is striving to help fill the gap by increasing the amount of food families with children receive during June, July and August at their agency. Throughout last summer’s program, 1,198 children were served. In order to meet the needs this season, the food bank is asking for additional kid-friendly foods. Requested donations include peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, individual fruit cups, soup, tuna and mayonnaise and cereal. Monetary donations are greatly appreciated, allowing the agency to wholesale and bulk purchase, stretching the dollar up to four times.

The food bank area includes Black Diamond, Covington, Hobart, Maple Valley, Ravensdale and the Tahoma School District.

Please make checks payable to MVFB&ES, print “Children’s food” in the memo field.

Your help is greatly appreciated.