Freckled cheeks and a big, toothy smile – 9-year-old Makaila is the picture of summer. She’s visiting a summer meal site with her best friend: her younger sister. “My sister Lily is my best friend. I love hanging out with her…when she doesn’t annoy me!” she laughs.

It’s been a fun-filled summer so far for Makaila, who has been keeping busy with a few projects. “I’m reading a chapter book about dragons right now…I love dragons!” she exclaims. “I also love to play games during the summer and see my friends.”

Makaila is also a big fan of mac and cheese, which she’s been eating a lot of this summer. 

The siblings are out at the summer site almost every day. They get a good meal there – their bagged lunch that day included a turkey sandwich, apple, carrots and milk. “The food is good and it’s nice here,” Makaila said. “Nothing is better than books, reading and ice cream…except mac and cheese!”

With school ramping up to start again in the fall and grocery budgets already being stretched to their limits, families in our community are grateful for summer meal sites to help bridge the gap. These meals are essential to keep kids full and ready to learn when they enter their new classrooms in August.

Your support of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee strengthens programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) at sites throughout Middle Tennessee that are essential to families like Makaila’s. Community centers, libraries, day camps, schools, and other programs are in turn able to provide nutritious meals and snacks in addition to their enriching and fun activities for local children.