People often say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but for those living on limited incomes, every meal is just as important.

During the school year, many students receive free or reduced priced breakfasts and lunches to ensure everyone lives nutritious lives.

Many students and families depend on those meals to help keep grocery costs down.

Other programs like backpack buddies also help to supplement school meals by sending students home with a snack or meals during weekends and school holidays.

But when schools break for the summer, those students are left looking for another solution.

That’s where Picayune’s summer feeding program comes in.

Every year, we at the Item have the opportunity to go to one of the district’s cafeterias to a room full of children and their families gathering for lunch.

It’s incredible to see all of those smiling faces—despite the fact that they’re technically at school during summer—eating full plates of healthy food.

Adults also have the opportunity to purchase a nutritious meal at a discounted rate, providing another valuable service to the community.

Sometimes we can get caught up checking off items from our to-do lists that we forget or don’t have time to grab lunch or breakfast, but for children, every meal is important.

All over South Mississippi, these summer feeding programs continue to provide for our children.

Feeding America sponsors many summer feeding programs across the country.  To find another site in the community, residents can text “FOOD” to 877-877.