Community programs are supplementing the Grab-and-Go program but they too are lagging behind last summer’s participation and may not be enough to meet demand.

“Hawaiʻi Child Nutrition Programs is still working to get prior community sponsors to serve meals this summer as well as recruit new sponsors,” said Nicole Woo, senior policy analyst at Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice. “Especially this year, when we know there’s so much more need, we hope more sponsors will come on board, and that the Department of Education will get more schools to serve meals.”

“It’s understandable that the pandemic is causing challenges, but we’re just trying to find a way to get as many sites open as possible,” she added.

Last summer, free meals were available to children at 71 public schools, a record high, through the federally funded program.

The breakfasts and lunches being offered at 51 public schools this summer are free to children 18 years or younger, regardless of eligibility for subsidized meals, and to special ed students through age 22. Children do not have to attend the school where they pick up the meal.