During COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, as the country began to shut down due to COVID-19, food insecurity rates across the country quickly rose. Families who relied on school meal programs were suddenly faced with the need to feed their children at home, all while businesses were closed and unemployment was skyrocketing.
Months later, the number of children facing food insecurity is at its highest in 25 years—nearly double what it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. And with many families facing this issue for the first time, confusion and embarrassment have added to the stress of finding healthy meals for their families.
During a typical year, the Y feeds more than 560,000 children nationwide through its summer and afterschool meals program. This year, the Y surpassed that number in April.
For the Y, the need was overwhelming, but so was the response. Ys across the country were uniquely positioned to respond to this crisis due to the Y’s decade-long relationship with the Walmart Foundation. After years of support and partnership, the Y had the network and infrastructure in place to pivot quickly from offering their traditional afterschool meal program for children to providing grab-and-go lunches, grocery delivery and freshly prepared meals for the whole family.
The stories coming from communities large and small highlight the need and demonstrate how local and national partners can work together to cover gaps in food security so that all children have year-round access to healthy, nutritious foods. Below are some highlights of the work that has been happening around the country, thanks to tireless Y staff and volunteers, generous donors and dedicated partners.
America’s hunger crisis is far from over and feeding children will continue to be a challenge for communities around our country. To help address these significant needs, the Y and the Walmart Foundation have once again partnered together for 2020 – 2021 to help give children who need it most access to food.
Want to help? Contact your local Y to find out how you can donate or volunteer your time.
FIND YOUR Y
YMCA of Centre County
Bellefonte, PA
The YMCA of Centre County Opens a new window has operated their Summer Lunch Program since 2004 in collaboration with community partners. Prior to COVID-19, 20,000 people within their community faced food insecurity—a number that exponentially grew in March. Since the pandemic began, the Y increased the use of their “Travelin’ Table” mobile food bus, as well as the number of food distribution sites, to help deliver 260 tons of food Opens a new window to the community. Recently, the Y received a letter from a community member thanking them for their continued work providing nutritious meals to families:
At a time when we were struggling, your organization was there for our family with no questions asked. That is the true meaning of giving. I know that with COVID there are many needs that need met in our community, but even without the financial burden that this pandemic has caused, there are still many families who struggle to put food on the table. Not all people who are in need are below the poverty level, and families like ours are not eligible to receive any type of financial assistance from the government or from most agencies…although our expenses have increased, our income has not. Because of this, your program was a life saver to us, and I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity.
YMCA of Greater Boston
Boston, MA
According to Boston Public Schools (BPS), 78% of BPS students qualify for free- or discounted-lunch; the COVID-19-related school closures created a significant food security gap for Boston’s youth. The YMCA of Greater Boston Opens a new window worked with the City of Boston, Project Bread and other community partners to distribute two meals a day to kids and teens across the city. With more than 66 distribution sites throughout Boston’s communities, including YMCA camp sites, libraries, community centers, churches, clinics, housing developments and parks, the Y has delivered nearly 2 million meals since March 16. “The YMCA of Greater Boston [stepped] up in real time, during a real crisis to listen and serve and put people first,” said James Morton, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston.
YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo and Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center
Kalamazoo, MI
When Michigan schools closed in response to COVID-19, the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo Opens a new window responded by delivering more than 300 meals and snacks per day to kids in Kalamazoo County. Shortly thereafter, the Y partnered with the Sherman Lake YMCA Opens a new window Outdoor Center to more than double that—providing 1,000 meals and snacks a day to kids. The innovative partnership allowed the Sherman Lakes YMCA to use their camp kitchen (not in use due to COVID-19) to support the higher volume of meals being produced while the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo utilized their converted bus for deliveries. Local grocers, suppliers and food pantries helped by providing food and the Y received additional support from government and philanthropic funders. “The Y has continually tried to identify and meet critical community needs. It’s part of our DNA as an organization to be nimble and adaptable in identifying community needs and trying to meet them,” said Ben Davis, chief advancement officer of the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo.
