Summer is the greatest time of need for food assistance, but typically the slowest time of year for food donations.
Many children who have free or reduced meals throughout the school year experience heightened food insecurity during the summer break, including 200,000 students in Bexar County.
More than 12 million children in the United States live in "food insecure" homes, meaning those households don't have enough food for every family member to lead a healthy life. Hunger affects low-income families most often.
The San Antonio Food Bank services one of the largest areas in Southwest Texas, providing assistance to 58,000 individuals each week. Within the 16 counties it serves, 20 percent of the population is food insecure including one of every four children.
What factors have led to such high numbers of food insecure homes in the San Antonio area? How does living in a food desert affect a family's ability to access affordable, healthy food like fresh produce?
What are the root causes of food insecurity? What efforts are underway to help relieve hunger issues for San Antonio area families and children, especially during the summer?
Guests:
- Michael Guerra, chief resource officer for the San Antonio Food Bank
- Kathy Krey, director of the Texas Hunger Initiative
- Kathy Green, director of No Kid Hungry Texas
"The Source" is a live call-in program airing Mondays through Thursdays from 12-1 p.m. Leave a message before the program at (210) 615-8982. During the live show, call 210-614-8980, email thesource@tpr.org or tweet at @TPRSource.
*This interview aired on Tuesday, May 7.
