To the editor:

Your June 3 editorial (“A free lunch”) on low participation in summer meals programs in Kansas underscores the largely hidden problem of child hunger. Fortunately, it is a problem we can solve.

Nearly one in five children in Kansas is at risk of hunger. Over 350,000 low-income children in our state receive lunch assistance during the school year, but just 6.8 percent of them participated in summer meal programs in 2008. The fact that in the nation’s breadbasket so many children nourished by school meal programs during the school year will spend the summer without access to adequate, nutritious meals is hard to understand or accept.

Congress has a unique opportunity to remedy the summer hunger gap this month when they consider the reauthorization of Child Nutrition Programs, including summer feeding programs. Because of the importance of this legislation, 38 organizations across Kansas are working together to support passage of a strong Child Nutrition bill.

We are fortunate that Sen. Roberts and Rep. Moran sit on congressional committees that place them in key positions to both write program improvements and fund them. The Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bill in March that provides only half the amount needed to strengthen these programs and reduce child hunger.

The Kansas Child Nutrition Coalition urges Roberts and Moran to work for an adequately funded Child Nutrition bill, because all children in Kansas should have the opportunity to grow up healthy, strong, and prepared for the future.

Gary Brunk, Lawrence,

for the Child Nutrition

Coalition