BONUS! How can I support families in my building during the summer holidays?

Dear Grace,

When my kids were little, money was always tighter in the summer. Now that I’m older and don’t have to worry about all that, I forgot how much of a pain summer vacation can be for parents. But my neighbor is a schoolteacher, and she was saying that she’s worried about the kids this summer. She said some of her students go hungry in the summer, and spend a lot of time home alone because their parents can’t pay for camps or day care. 

I know it’s none of my business, but there are plenty of families in my building. I can remember how stressed I felt figuring out summer schedules when my kids were young. I am on a strict budget myself, but I have plenty of free time to offer…maybe there’s something I can do to help? What do you think?

– Old But Not Useless, Nashville Area

Hello again, Old But Not Useless,

Summer is now in full swing, and I hope my response to your question about supporting the families in your building helped you find your own way to get involved. Thousands of readers responded to your situation with tips that show just how thoughtful and creative we are—and serve as a reminder that there isn’t one “right” way to have an impact.

Child hunger is a serious issue, my friend, and one that many of our fellow readers have had experience with, either as children, parents, teachers, or community members.

You’re right to be concerned and definitely not alone—there are lots of folks taking action (some for the first time!) to help their friends and neighbors get through a tough time.

Take a look at some of the steps we would take to end child hunger in America and even more helpful tips for what you can do for your community right now. 

Start your own grocery service or “cafeteria.”

• “If I had free time on my hands and I was in the same building, I would talk to the parents about pitching in on groceries for me to cook for the children’ s lunch.”
• “If you have a family that you know that is just barely getting by, try what I do—when I go to the grocery store, I take advantage of the buy-one-get-one deals and give the extra food to my neighbor for her children. She is very thankful. If you have a lot of free time too, you could offer the children to come over and make a meal with you to give to their families.“
• “Get in touch with local food banks once you have a headcount of students who need lunch. Make a mock menu like school kitchens have. Expect variations to happen, but try to keep it nutritious. Due to peanut allergies, you have to limit pb+j sandwiches. Check with Panera Bread, as they donate their leftover bread, every morning. See if you can get some helpers from other residents or teens in the building (they could get community service hours for college!). If you don’t have room at your house to make a huge assembly line, you may need to get creative, but I know you can do it!”

Our community agreed with me—we all have a superpower to share. Leverage your skills and experience to find your niche. 

• “Look at what you did in your professional life. For example: I am an ARNP now, but with a long history in case management, parish nursing and public health. I still offer monthly afternoons where anyone in my church or the community at large can come bring their medications, come have a blood pressure or blood sugar check.”
• “Some of the best ways I’ve found to help are simply offering time, kindness, or skills. Volunteering at local shelters, mentoring young people, picking up trash at parks, or even just checking in on elderly neighbors makes a real difference. Sometimes a listening ear or helping hand means more than any dollar ever could.”
• “Teach children to garden and make bread. They will get to consume the fruits of their labor as well as learn a skill while being supervised by an adult! Ask different community adults to share their skills to teach, art, cooking, writing, different sports or games like chess.” 

Don’t go it alone. Making a difference is a team sport, so don’t be shy about inviting other friends or neighbors to join you.

• “I think everybody in the community should come together, put a little bit of money in and a little bit of time and create a community-based program where a handful of people make bag lunches for the children during the week. Maybe post something on Facebook and have a designated area where these lunches can be picked up and provided to these children.”
• “Start a Facebook group. Have people in your community list what extras they have to share, or what items or services they need. Work on a barter thing, like I am willing to babysit, if someone will mow my lawn. It’s amazing what you can do together. Remember, it takes a village.”

Summers can squeeze your wallet, whether you’re a parent or not. Between higher electric bills from 24/7 air conditioning, to making the annual trip to the lake, to dealing with camp or extra child care costs, there’s a lot to juggle. Your community isn’t the only one dealing with the summer squeeze—the rising cost of groceries, lack of affordable child care, and constant hustle to stay afloat impacts families across the country. Here’s the good news though—stepping up to help doesn’t have to cost you and neither does using your voice to support big, bold solutions that your community is facing. I’m sending you my best wishes for a purposeful, joyful summer. 

Love, 

Grace and the Readers