With Philadelphia public schools out for summer, several local agencies are working to fill the food gap for children who rely on school breakfast and lunch.
The city and several nonprofits have made a concerted effort this year to make the meal programs visible, meeting throughout the year to coordinate their efforts.
In its first year, the Scranton School District’s breakfast in the classroom program led to a more than 65 percent increase in the number of students who eat their first meal of the day at school.
“We’re always worried that the funding is going to be cut and we know the need isn’t going down,” said Laura Wall, the executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger.