Mississippi has the worst hunger problem in America.

Almost 1 in 6 Mississippians — about 480,600 people — don’t have enough to eat. More than 1 in 5 children (18.8%) go to bed hungry most nights. Stomachs are growling all over the state. Hunger is a problem all across America. But in Mississippi, it’s practically an epidemic.

During the summer months, it's even worse! With school out most children will be without at least 2 meals a day.

It was announced in January, that this summer, children in the Gulf South will miss out on a federal program that provides low-income families with extra cash for groceries while school is out of session.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, which carried many lower-income families through the COVID-19 pandemic will become permanent. The program will give families an extra $120 per eligible child on EBT cards for the summer — averaging out to $40 per month.

But kids in the Gulf States won’t see any of those funds this summer. In Louisiana and Mississippi, state leadership declined to expand the program. Alabama missed the deadline to set aside funds for their half of the expansion, which would have totaled millions of dollars.

About a third of families living below the poverty line in America suffer from food insecurity, research from the USDA shows. In Louisiana and Mississippi, the rate is higher than the national average.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Help us feed at least 45 children this summer, our program aims to provide lunch and a snack 5 days a week to children in Jackson who are in need.

It will cost us around $8 per day or $562 for the entire summer per child to provide a nutritious lunch and snack to take home, reading, math, and social skills day workshops. Consider sponsoring a child for the summer, week, or day!

Sunshine Scholars

By Wecarejxn

Sunshine Scholars

Help us feed Jackson's future!

Team Members