Green Bay, WI--According to the Boys and Girls Club, one of the organizations benefiting from Red Nose Day in Green Bay, seven out of 10 children live at or below the poverty level, with families struggling to provide basic necessities. Children from around the area rely heavily on school lunches during the year. And during summer months, it’s tough on families but there are community options out there.
Children at the Boys and Girls Club are getting behind Red Nose Day.
They’re one of the recipients -- helping with their food program. "Throughout the summer we offer breakfast in the morning a snack, lunch and then another snack," says Stephanie Schallham, a spokesperson for Boys And Girls Club Green Bay.
Four out of 10 kids in Green Bay live in extreme poverty, where household income is less than $10,000 a year.
In 2015, the Boys and Girls Club served more than 100,000 meals ... 4,000 of those were to children in Green Bay. “Some of our kids you see them on Friday and you don't know what they're going to have until Monday," says Schallham.
The Green Bay Area Public School District is also serving up some help with the Summer Food Service Program. "A healthy meal for kids especially in the summer months where there might not be school or they might not be a position that they can afford meals," says Amy Zellner, quality assurance specialist.
The program serves lunches at 31 parks and 32 schools in Green Bay.
Children up to 18 years old can get a lunch, but anyone can utilize this program for $2. "We're excited to be able to offer things to them like summer programs and meals throughout the summer so that they have everything that they need in order to be successful” says Schallham.
It's more than just serving a meal, it's giving the children an opportunity to succeed.
