There's no reason kids should go hungry in Southern Utah, at least not in the month of June.

The Washington County School District begins its summer lunch program beginning on Monday in Washington County.

There are six different sites around the county that will feature Grab-N-Go opportunities for kids to go and get free lunch.

The sites are:

  • Legacy Elementary -- 280 East, 100 South in St. George
  • Paradise Canyon -- 1795 West, 1230 North in St. George
  • Washington City Veteran's Park -- 75 East Telegraph, Washington City
  • Hurricane Community Center -- 63 South, 100 West, Hurricane
  • Red Mountain Elementary -- 263 East, 200 South, Ivins
  • Enterprise Elementary -- 216 South, 100 East, Enterprise

The meals will be available each weekday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is free to all Washington County children ages 18 and younger.

The WCSD is calling it the SUN program, which stands for Summer Nutrition Programs For Kids.

"In the 2019-2020 school year ... 44.6 percent of our students qualified for free and reduced lunches," said Washington County School District communications director Steve Dunham.

"Last year we ended with 703 homeless students," Dunham added. "We are concerned because we currently have ... more than we did last year."

The WCSD school board is very aware of the problem.

"You look at the homelessness in our community and that rate is higher than what we would expect it to be," said WCSD board member Becky Dunn. "Many of these families are struggling for food and the parents themselves are not eating. They might have one meal a day. The food rations for these families are slim."

Dunham said the problem is real in our region.

"It is kind of a surprise when you consider that most of what these families are making is going to their rent," Dunham said. "We have the Utah Food Bank come to the District office and they set up a Utah Food bank once a month for the community. Every one of these agencies is seeing an increase in demand."

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Washington County: Home to Beautiful Scenery, Amazing Art, Groomed Trails and ... Hungry Children

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There's no doubt St. George and Washington County are established on a national and even international stage as an excellent tourist destination, fitness mecca and fairly prosperous town of caring citizens.

All that is true. But Washington County is also home to another element, a sad and dark side that many leaders and owners of 4,000-square foot homes don't want to talk about.

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We have children who don't have enough to eat.

"In the 2019-2020 school year ... 44.6 percent of our students qualified for free and reduced lunches," said Washington County School District communications director Steve Dunham.

Reduced lunch? No big deal, right?

"Last year we ended with 703 homeless students," Dunham added. "We are concerned because we currently have ... 100 more than we did last year at this time."

Wait, what? We have 700 homeless kids in Washington County?! Our home?! That's not possible, is it?

"You look at the homelessness in our community and that rate is higher than what we would expect it to be," said WCSD board member Becky Dunn. "Many of these families are struggling for food and the parents themselves are not eating. They might have one meal a day. The food rations for these families are slim."

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Dunn and Dunham were quick to mention a couple of the charitable organizations that help many of these below-the-poverty-line families make it, including Donna McBean's Neighborhood Connection, Tan's Treats and the Utah Food Bank.

"Sometimes the only meal kids are getting is the one's they get at school, so these amazing programs are vital," Dunn said.

"It is kind of a surprise when you consider that most of what these families are making is going to their rent," Dunham said. "We have the Utah Food Bank come to the District office and they set up a Utah Food bank once a month for the community. Every one of these agencies is seeing an increase in demand."

So what can we do. Finding out about these grim facts, many of our heartstrings are being tugged. More than politics, water shortages and voter fraud, we are humans who care and we want to help.

But how?

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"The Utah Food Bank has tremendous resources to help families," Dunham said. "And they're adding sites where families can go pick up some food, no questions asked."

To donate, go to Utah Food Bank Southern Distribution Center. You can also help out by donating or volunteering with Tan's Treats or Neighborhood Connection.

If your excuse is "I didn't know where to go," or "I paid at church," that's just not going to hold water. The links above tell you where to go, and hungry kids need food, not tithes and offerings.

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