MINNEAPOLIS - For some students, the start of summer break is a time of uncertainty, unsure of when they'll have their next meal.
An estimated 30,000 children in Minneapolis face food insecurity.
The Summer Eats Minnesota app, now in its second year, is designed to change that outcome with a few swipes.
Hunger Impact Partners, a non-profit in Minneapolis, brainstormed the app solution last May to connect kids in need to underutilized summer food programs, after seeing low participation rates in summer feeding programs for kids eligible to receive free and reduced-price meals.
The free app helps kids and families access 700 statewide free food sites using GPS. The app has gathered 2,700 downloads so far and is quickly gaining attention.
The app also provides menus of meals, which has been popular among kids.
“We actually did focus groups at North High with students to see what was the functionality, what were modifications we could make so we continue to improve it, and push it out. I recently got a call from the state of Maryland, they want to do something similar, so does Texas,” said Ellie Lucas, Hunger Impact Partners, CEO.
Retired NBA player and former Minneapolis Public Schools Athletic Director Trent Tucker joined the mission behind Summer Eats, acting as a spokesperson for the new technology, after seeing the need for nutrition among youth.
“When a young person can sense there is hope, someone is there for them, to help them believe things can be different, positive message we can send, as long as you have hope, you can have life,” said Tucker.
Minneapolis Public Schools is also coming up with creative solutions, this summer unveiling Street Eats, a new food truck taking hot meals on the road to sites across Minneapolis.
The district has one two food trucks visiting free meal sites all summer, and with high demand, MPS is now searching for a third food truck to meet needs.
One piece of the solution Lucas envisioned, hope within reach.
“You could text this to a friend. It could be teachers that share this information, social workers, somebody in your community, and it will remove some of the stigma, people will talk about this is as a good thing, a positive, free meals out there for kids,” said Lucas.
The program is sponsored by the USDA and locally managed by the Minnesota Department of Education. You can find the Summer Eats Minnesota app in the Apple or Google Play stores.