Summer meal giveaway targets food insecurity in Bledsoe County

A long line at a summer meal giveaway at Pikeville Elementary School Friday.

PIKEVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) – One in six children in Tennessee are facing food insecurity according to the non-profit No Kids Hungry.

A lot of these children are located in our rural communities. 

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 26% of all residents of Bledsoe County live below the poverty line.

This is approximately double the average of Tennessee.

They further estimate that nearly 42% of children under the age of 18 live below that poverty line.

With this in mind, the Summer Meal Program provided by Bledsoe County Schools and No Kid Hungry Tennessee becomes a lifeline for this community.

“Parents have told me they wouldn’t be able to put food on the table without this. If it wasn’t for us, they wouldn’t have anything,” said Kristy Owens, field manager for Bledsoe County Schools Nutrition.

Marissa Spady, senior manager with No Kids Hungry Tennessee, added, “Historically with the Summer Meal Program, children who wanted to participate would have to come sit on site, and that’s not always feasible for families, especially in rural areas where they have to travel a long distance…It’s a challenge for families who live in these communities to get to summer meal sites throughout the community because transportation can be a challenge, work schedules can be a challenge, child care can be a challenge. “

Bledsoe County Schools have been providing this pick-up service at Pikeville Elementary since the Covid-19 pandemic and provide nearly 1,000 families with meals up to a week throughout the month of June every Friday.

“We are a very rural community, so our free and reduced lunch rates are very high,” said Owens.

The need for the Summer Meals Program was demonstrated by the long line on Highway 30 in Pikeville.

It stretched all the way back to near the intersection with Highway 127 and wrapped into Pikeville Elementary.

Those unable to physically make it to the meal giveaway have another option for assistance over the summer through the Summer EBT Program.

Eligible families can apply for it, which provides $120 per child of benefits.

The program is a bonding opportunity between educators and their students.

“I love getting to see them all, and they get to see their lunch ladies when they come through, and they’re all excited. I’ll holler at them when they come through,” said Owens.