MIDLAND, Texas — Food insecurity is a problem that families face year-round, including in West Texas. However, in the summer, it can get even more difficult with school coming to an end as many students need those weekly meals at school.
There are several organizations who help to fill that gap this time of year.
Putting food on the plate is hard.
“The food cost is very, very costly right now for one that has a job, has two jobs," said Nancy Ivy, executive director of Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry. "When you don’t have a job at all and trying to feed somebody – it’s a lot, it’s a lot of burden.”
A burden for families and another thing to worry about.
“The cost now is very, very high, and it’s a struggle for us and to other parents as well," said Melissa Villescas, a mother of two children.
That struggle can hit harder in the summer.
“With them being out of school we know there’s a great many of them who don’t have access to stable meals or even just the consistency with their parents working," said Heather Herriage, regional manager of the Child Nutrition Program for Idea Public Schools.
That reality means organizations, like the Midland Soup Kitchen, have to step up their support.
“Just on a regular basis we’re serving up to 130 and just on regular days," Ivy said. "We end up feeding about 180, 190, almost 200 people with the children that come to eat.”
While it’s important to get a meal served, the nutritional value is key too.
“When they go to school, they get a four-course meal – they get their vegetables, they get their protein, they get their fruits and vegetables – and when they’re not in school, what do they get?" Ivy said. "So, here, I do make a home-cooked meal every single day so they’re getting at least a home-cooked meal from us and they get their veggies – they get everything that they would get in school they get now at the Midland Soup Kitchen.”
Idea Public Schools Permian Basin are doing the same, helping to fight hunger one meal at a time.
“Hunger is not specific to this school; it’s also not specific to this area," Herriage said. "If we can provide them with a nutritious meal that provides everything they need at least for breakfast and lunch that’s a good start.”
Idea Travis in Midland and Idea Yukon in Odessa are serving anyone 18 or younger breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. That is going on from May 28 through July 26, excluding federal holidays and July 1 through July 5.
Midland Soup Kitchen serves everyone weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ector County ISD is also offering summer meal programs. For that schedule, click here.
Midland ISD will be offering summer meal programs as well, with those details unknown at this time.