RELEASE: No Kid Hungry Announces 5 National Summer Meals Heroes

Contact: Johanna Elsemore at 202.478.6554 or jelsemore@strength.org

Washington, DC – The national anti-hunger campaign No Kid Hungry has announced five winners of its 2019 Summer Meals Hero contest. This year’s inspiring line-up of local champions is proof that it really does take a village to feed kids in the summertime. The winners include individuals from school districts and community organizations across the country who were nominated by members of their local community. These No Kid Hungry summer heroes have gone above and beyond to find innovative ways to make summer meals accessible and fun for kids living with hunger. 

Summer can be the hungriest time of year for many children from low-income families. When schools close, students no longer get school meals, and families struggle to put food on the table. Summer hunger can have a long-term impact on a child’s health, ability to learn and general well-being. No Kid Hungry and its partners focus on connecting kids to the national Summer Meals Program as a critical way to end childhood hunger.

“Reaching kids during the summer months can be a tough nut to crack, but I’m so inspired by the work that’s happening in communities all across the country,” said No Kid Hungry Senior Vice President Lisa Davis. “Thanks to everyday heroes like the amazing folks we’re recognizing today, many more kids will return to school this fall well-nourished and ready to learn.”

The following individuals were named 2019 No Kid Hungry Summer Meals Heroes:

• Denise Turney, Child Nutrition Director at the Ozark Mountain School District (St. Joe, Arkansas)
  Denise has tirelessly volunteered her time every summer since 2014 supervising the summer meals program at St. Joe Elementary School. “Denise’s program offers an oasis for the children of the area by providing a free meal and fun activities during the tough summer months,” says Shirley Clark, chief program officer at the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas. “We are so fortunate to have heroes like Denise in North Central Arkansas!” St. Joe is a small rural community where 83% of students at the elementary school are eligible for free and reduced priced meals.
• Susan Levy, Communications Coordinator, Volunteers and Community Involvement at NATIVE HEALTH (Phoenix, Arizona)
  For years, Susan has been a strong advocate for providing summer meals at NATIVE HEALTH sites. “Any time they open a new location, the first people she contacts is us to set up the summer food program,” said Jose Urteaga with St. Mary’s Food Bank. “She does a fantastic job with outreach to her community, training her team at the clinics to specifically tell children to keep coming back every day.” NATIVE HEALTH partners with St. Mary’s Food Bank to provide free meals for kids at six sites, committed to serving the urban Phoenix Native American population.
• Jodi Risse, Food Nutrition Services Supervisor, Anne Arundel County Schools (Anne Arundel County, Maryland)
  When Jodi saw there was no farmers’ market in an eligible summer meals area, she created one at a summer meal site. Each week, produce is sold by a local farmer that she contracts throughout the year to incorporate local foods into the school meals menus. “Jodi is innovative and always adding partners to her summer meals programs and increasing her reach around the county,” said Kara Panowitz, senior manager of out of school time for No Kid Hungry Maryland. “She is truly an example of a dedicated, inspiring, passionate summer meals sponsor.” The market also sends produce bags home with families and accepts SNAP benefits, benefiting entire families in Anne Arundel County.
• Ryan Hurley, Director of Dining Services, Chartwells School Dining Services (Central Falls, Rhode Island)
  Under Ryan’s leadership, Central Falls School District developed and implemented a “traveling chef” summer feeding program. Twice a week, Central Falls chefs visit local parks and offer lunch –cooked live in front of the kids. “The excitement that comes from the sights, sounds and smells of chefs cooking fresh, hot food on a grill in a park is difficult to describe!” says Rory Marty, Director of Operations for Central Falls School. “Ryan is truly a Super Hero who goes far above and beyond to make summer meals unique, healthy, and fun, much to the delight of kids and the greater Central Falls community.” 100% of kids in the Central Falls School District were eligible for free and reduced-priced meals last school year.
• Lynne Mayer, Summer Meals Supervisor for the Kent School District (Kent, Washington)
  Lynne has been fiercely dedicated to ending summer hunger since first beginning her position more than 10 years ago. In 2016, she noticed a large group of kids playing at Kent's Lake Meridian Park and reached out to the City of Kent's Parks and Recreation Department to develop a strategy to offer summer meals. She has since expanded service at the park by offering hands-on enrichment activities in addition to meals. “Lynne is passionate about serving her community and doesn't say no when a need is identified,” said Sara Seelmeyer, Food Security Coordinator for the United Way of King County. “She thinks strategically and aims to meet families where they are, in order to ensure that every child in Kent is able to access Summer Meals.” The Kent School District serves nearly 15,000 low-income students in King County, where nearly 1 in 6 kids face hunger.