Press Releases

Today, Rep. Suzan DelBene joined the YMCA of Greater Seattle to pass out lunches to children from low-income families as part of their Summer Meals Program. The event took place at Kingsgate Library in Kirkland. Every child in attendance received a meal, and accompanying parents were given a snack.

“No child should be forced to skip meals or go to bed hungry just because school is not in session. While school breaks for summer, a child’s need for nutritional food does not. We need to ensure every child has access to healthy meals all year-round, and I will continue to bring attention to this critical issue,” said Rep. DelBene.

According to Food Lifeline, 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger in Western Washington. 43 percent of all students in Washington state participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, receiving free or reduced price meals. Close to 50,000 Washington state students have participated in Summer Meals.

During her time in Congress, Rep. DelBene has volunteered at Summer Meals programs at Frank Wagner Elementary in Monroe, Juanita View Apartments in Kirkland, and the Snohomish Aquatic Center. She has also cosponsored the Stop Child Summer Hunger Act. During the 2014 Farm Bill, she helped Washington state receive almost $90,000 in grants to help better connect school cafeterias with local farmers and growers.