Special to The Leader

The end of the school year means a void in food access for thousands of area children whose families rely on the federal feeding programs within public schools for breakfast and lunch during the school year. In response, local school districts and organizations rally around the issue of childhood hunger to continue providing nourishing meals at no cost to children 18 and under.

These summer feeding programs generally have begun as of Monday, June 5 at schools and other feeding sites around the region. Families needing to determine feeding locations near them can access information by calling 2-1-1, texting FOODTX to 877-877, or using an interactive website hosted by the Texas Department of Agriculture (http://squaremeals.org/Programs/SummerFeedingPrograms/SummerFeedingInteractiveMap.aspx).