SPOKANE, Wash. — Weekend hunger is a significant challenge for many children in the Spokane area, with local food security advocates warning that when school isn’t in session, many kids don’t have reliable access to meals.
According to Second Harvest Food Bank, approximately one in five children in the region faces daily food insecurity challenges. For these students, school breakfast and lunch programs provide critical nutrition during weekdays, but weekends can leave them vulnerable to hunger.
Today, volunteers from Numerica Credit Union are stepping up to address this need through Second Harvest’s Bite-2-Go program. The volunteers will assemble food packages at Second Harvest’s facility, preparing them for distribution to local schools.
These weekend food packages will be delivered to schools tomorrow, where they’ll be discretely provided to students identified as facing potential weekend hunger. The program’s approach ensures students receive the support they need while maintaining their dignity and privacy.
“It’s all brand new food. So the kids, it’s not donated food or, quote, food bank food. It’s purchased brand name food. We care a lot about the kids and their self-worth and their dignity,” said Julie Myklebust from Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Bite-2-Go initiative has seen remarkable growth in recent years. “We’re in north Idaho. We’re in central Washington, we’re in the Tri-Cities. We’re feeding over 12,000 students per week. So it’s grown double, really, since in the last three and a half years, it’s doubled,” Myklebust explained.
This rapid expansion highlights both the program’s success and the persistent challenge of childhood hunger throughout the Inland Northwest region. By providing nutritious, easy-to-prepare food items that children can take home on Fridays, the program helps bridge the weekend meal gap for vulnerable students.
Second Harvest continues to seek community support for this and other food security programs. The organization welcomes both volunteer time and financial contributions to sustain their efforts in combating childhood hunger throughout the region.
Those interested in supporting the Bite-2-Go program or exploring other volunteer opportunities with Second Harvest can find more information by clicking on this link.
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