FOOD for Lane County - Healthy Kids Learn Better

Healthy Kids Learn Better

by Jennifer Slater


	FOOD for Lane County's Summer Lunch Program provided more than 127,000 free, nutritious meals to Lane County children this summer.

This summer, at a park near Churchill High School in Eugene, about 40 children gathered around Johnna Harms, waiting for lunch to be served.

“The kids really like Fridays,” said Harms. “That's chocolate milk day.”

Churchill High School was one of 59 sites in Lane County where children ages 2-18 could go this summer to receive a free, nutritious lunch from FOOD for Lane County.

“My kids would be eating macaroni and cheese every day if we didn't have the free lunch program,” said one parent. “I really like the variety, and it’s healthy too. A hungry child can’t learn. I’m grateful this program is here.”

A lack of affordable healthcare creates another financial burden that keeps many families teetering on the edge. A mother of two, one with learning disabilities, believes she is one of many people who has fallen through the cracks.

“I've had a lot of medical problems, and my son has attention deficit disorder. Medical bills pile up. That doesn't leave much money for food.”

Summer Food Fills the Gap When School Is Out
Many Lane County families who rely on free and reduced-priced lunches during the school year cannot afford to provide consistent, healthy meals for their children when school is out. When money is tight, meals are often the first thing to go.


FOOD for Lane County Summer Food Coordinator Karen Roth received the 2006 Community Recognition Award from the Lane County Commission on Children and Families.

More than one in five Oregon children live in a home where parents worry where their next meal will come from. This summer, FOOD for Lane County served more than 127,000 meals to children. Children came with their day care providers, summer camp counselors, parents and friends. Many were among the 19% of children in Oregon who live in poverty.

Oregon is above the national average of 17% for childhood poverty, according to Children First for Oregon, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocate for Oregon children and families. Most of these families are working. In fact, more than 81% of Oregonians who live at or below the federal poverty level ($19,350 for a family of four) have at least one working parent whose income does not cover basic needs.

"Every child should have the opportunity to be healthy and successful," said FOOD for Lane County Summer Food Program Coordinator Karen Roth. "Investing in childhood nutrition programs, like Summer Food and free and reduced-priced lunch programs, pay off in long-term benefits that far outweigh any upfront costs." The Lane County Commission on Children and Families recently awarded Roth the 2006 Community Recognition Award for her commitment toward improving the lives of Lane County children through FOOD for Lane County's Summer Food Program.

For more information on the impact of poverty on childhood nutrition and what you can do to help, contact Karen Roth at kroth@foodforlanecounty.org or (541) 343-2882.

Jennifer Slater is the mother of two and a graduate student in the University of Oregon’s Not-for-Profit Management Program. She lives in Junction City.