Restaurant chain partners with Second Harvest to make this a Hunger Free Summer
Summer is oftentimes a season of hunger for at-risk children and their families in our community. One in three children in Tennessee qualify for free breakfast and lunch at school – meals that go away when summer begins. For parents, the cost of an additional 10 meals per child, per week is a real struggle.
Now with record job losses and missed paychecks due to COVID-19 – plus school letting out two months early – this summer is especially tough for families.In response, O’Charley’s – the classic American restaurant chain – is teaming up with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to ensure that children and families at-risk of hunger in our community have access to the food they need during this difficult time.
“With coronavirus, schools closed early this year, so the need has become even more acute,” said Craig Barber, CEO of O’Charley’s. “This year we are partnering with Second Harvest to make 2020 a hunger free summer.”
The need is greater than ever. Feeding America projects that 1 in 4 children in our community are currently food insecure – a 40 percent increase compared to before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For more than 15 years, we have helped Second Harvest raise funds and awareness so they can provide meals to families in need,” said Barber. “We are a proud partner in this year’s campaign to make this a Hunger Free Summer for Middle Tennesseans both through our financial support and by bringing awareness to hunger issues during the summer months.”
