Late May and early June mean one thing for most children across the country: the end of the school year and a worry-free summer ahead. However, for children experiencing food insecurity, the end of the school year can mark a time where food becomes scarce, bellies don’t get full, and life gets much more difficult. Throughout May, we have been discussing the connection between experiencing food insecurity and becoming unhoused. The connection is direct and often traps individuals in a vicious cycle. Children, unfortunately, are not immune to this.
Hunger is Ageless
A study completed in 2024 by the United States Department of Agriculture, released in December of 2025, and later published by Children’s Watch, found that “18.4% of households with children experienced food insecurity at some point in 2024—meaning 14.1M children didn’t have access to enough food for an active, healthy life sometime in 2024.” These are children experiencing hunger. We know that there is a direct connection between mental and physical well-being and access to healthy foods and a balanced diet. While a balanced diet is important at any age, it is especially true for children. In households where food insecurity is present, often adults and caregivers bear the brunt of this. Parents will often go without, giving the little food available to their children. This situation creates further instability for the adults who are responsible for providing stable housing for children in the home. When the body is properly nourished, things like being functional at work, remaining healthy enough to work, and being mentally healthy become much more difficult for the adults involved.
Food Resources for Local Children
As times have changed, schools and organizations across the country have realized that summer can be especially dangerous for children without access to regular, healthy meals. Many schools, including those in La Porte County, and partner organizations are working to support those in need by providing food for school-aged children. Below is a list of organizations that offer food assistance to school-aged children.
Programs and services
- Michigan City Area Schools Summer Food Service Program — free meals for all kids 18 and under, no registration; full site list, dates, and times. Questions: MCAS Food Service Operations, (219) 873-2131.
- La Porte Community School Corporation Summer Meals — free breakfast and lunch for all kids 18 and under, eaten on site:
- Handley (June 2–26): Breakfast 8:30–9:00 AM, Lunch 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
- Kingsford Heights (June 2–26): Lunch 10:45–11:15 AM
- LaPark (June 2–26): Lunch 12:00–12:30 PM
- Kesling (June 15–26 & July 6–17): Breakfast 8:30–9:00 AM, Lunch 11:45 AM–12:15 PM
- USDA Summer Meals Site Finder — find any open site by address; text “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744 or visit fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder.
- Summer EBT — grocery benefits for eligible families with school-age children during the summer; USDA Summer Food info.
- Food 4 Kids Backpack Program (Food Bank of Northern Indiana) — free weekend/break food for eligible K–6 students in LaPorte County; program page.
- Food Bank of Northern Indiana mobile distributions — groceries brought directly into La Porte County neighborhoods; feedindiana.org.
- Center Township Trustee’s Office — emergency assistance for La Porte residents, including help with food. https://centertownshiplaporte.com/
We encourage you to bookmark and share this post widely. Whether a family needs a meal site this week, grocery assistance this month, or a place to turn in a crisis, the resources are here. Let’s make sure every kid in our community knows where the next meal is coming from. Also, if you’d like us to add a resource to this list, please contact us at communications@nestcommunityshelter.org.
Summer should mean worry-free fun for kids, not hunger. Every program listed exists because our neighbors decided no child in La Porte County should go without a meal when school lets out.
Community Support Keeps Families Fed and Housed
Food insecurity does not discriminate by age, race, or gender. When funds become so scarce that food insecurity becomes commonplace, it can indicate that becoming unhoused is a real possibility. While this is not always the case, a report in the Journal of Housing Economics published an article about the connection between being unhoused and food insecurity, stating that, “families straining to stay fed will sometimes forego rent or mortgage payments in order to have enough to eat, which in turn increases the likelihood of eviction.” As a community, let’s share these resources and break the connection where we can, keep bellies full, and families housed.
