“Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation.” For many Anchorage and Alaska children this seasonal truth begins when the school year with its free or reduced lunch program ends for three months. Wednesday the Food Bank of Alaska kicked off its fifth Summer Food Service Program in Fairview with speeches from dignitaries and free lunches for the kids. KSKA’s Len Anderson was there along with Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich (pictured right).
The ceremony in the Fairview Recreation Center’s multipurpose room began after the kids finished their lunches. The youngsters could have stayed for the official celebration, but they all opted for the center’s other offerings, including a rock climbing pillar and inflatable fun house erected in the parking lot as part of the lunch program start-up celebration.
Food Bank of Alaska is the program’s sponsor and Susannah Morgan is its executive director. Morgan gave an Alaskan perspective on summer time hunger.
Photos by Len Anderson, KSKA – Anchorage.
landerson (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8449 | About Len
