Food for Success: Promoting Summer Feeding Programs for School Children in Robeson County, NC

UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Sonya L. Hunt, Esther G. Maynor Honors College (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
Advisor
E. Brooke Kelly

Abstract: Robeson County is ranked #1 in poverty in North Carolina, with 1 in 2 children living below the poverty line (Census Bureau, 2014). Thirty-four percent of children are living in food insecure homes (Feeding America, 2014). Food insecurity presents negative consequences for children’s health, behavior, and academic performance in school. Free and reduced lunch programs provide meals for low-income children during the school year, but not during summer months. Summer feeding programs aim to fill the gap, providing children with nutritious food over the summer. With such high child poverty and food insecurity rates in Robeson County, are current summer feeding programs meeting children’s needs? What barriers and obstacles do current and potential feeding sites face in their efforts to effectively feed children in Robeson County? To answer these questions, I conducted 12 semi-structured interviews with the Board of Education, Public Schools of Robeson County, current feeding sites, potential feeding sites, and NC House Officials. Findings revealed there are not enough summer feeding sites in the county to meet children’s needs. Barriers and challenges included food allergies, picky eaters, while some children asked for extra food to take home, parental involvement, promotion, and transportation. Possible solutions on how to resolve problems of access to summer feeding sites to help feed the children in Robeson County are addressed.

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Esther G. Maynor Honors College
Language: English
Date: 2016
Keywords
Children, Food Insecurity, Food Security, Hunger, Health, Nutrition, Poverty, Summer Feeding Programs, Robeson County (N.C.)

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