‘Summer hunger’ is a thing — and it’s in the Tri-Cities

Donations to Second Harvest ramp up around the holidays.

Thanksgiving and Christmas come, and people dip into their pantries and their pocketbooks.

It’s thoughtful, it’s good-hearted and it’s important to the nonprofit, which serves Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

But there’s another season when the need is great, too — and it’s not when you might think.

In the summer, families often see their budgets stretch with school out of session.

“Summer hunger” is a thing, and it’s here in the Tri-Cities.

“I think it goes a little undetected,” said Holly Siler, Second Harvest’s regional executive director, based in Pasco.

But there are ways people can help, from making donations to volunteering.

“Awareness of it is really the first thing. Just know it exists,” Siler said.

In Benton and Franklin counties, one in 10 people — including one in five children — lack reliable access to affordable and nutritious food.

In the summer, it can be especially tough for families to afford enough food, officials said. With kids out of school, child care costs may go up. Food costs may rise, too.

Many kids in the Tri-Cities rely on free or reduced-price meals at school during the academic year. While summer meal programs are offered, there can be barriers, such as transportation.

Bill Kitchen, executive director of Tri-Cities Food Bank, agreed that summer can be a challenging time for struggling families.

His organization has seen its client numbers fall a bit overall, which he attributes to more people finding work locally. But, the need remains great, with the food bank serving thousands of families, he said.

The food bank is in need of fresh produce, cash donations and volunteers — especially people who can help with driving, Kitchen said. To get in touch, go to tricitiesfoodbank.org.

Second Harvest also can use food and cash donations, as well as volunteers.

The organization provides food to food programs and food banks, and it also gives directly to those in need through its Mobile Markets and other offerings.

To donate or get involved, go to 2-harvest.org.

This story was originally published August 12, 2017 at 5:46 PM with the headline "‘Summer hunger’ is a thing — and it’s in the Tri-Cities."