JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It can be easy to forget that the joys of summer vacation also bring uncertainty for many children about when they might get their next meal.
According to Feeding Northeast Florida, 1 in 5 children in Northeast Florida goes to bed hungry. That’s more than 93,000 children who do not have enough food at home.
And the struggle only grows in the summer months when children who rely on eating breakfast and lunch at school must find those meals elsewhere.
But one Jacksonville business wants to make things easier.
Tyrica Moore, owner of The Food Doctor food truck, said she created the “Summer on the Block” program to help fill the gap when children lose access to regular school meals.
Moore chose North Myrtle Avenue because it’s a highly visible, easily accessible location in a neighborhood she says is underserved and considered a food desert.
“I know that this area does need that type of assistance, and I’m honored to be the one being a provider,” Moore said.
The Food Doctor’s Summer Lunch Program, funded by donations and sponsorships, currently provides free lunches to an average of 60 children Tuesday through Friday.
But Moore says the need is even greater.
She said some children show up every day right at noon, even before the truck opens, which she says shows families are depending on the program.
More than 200 meals have been served so far, with daily totals ranging from about 40 to nearly 80 meals. Children 16 and younger can pick from six different meal options and leave with lunch in hand.
Among the current options are:
- Shrimp and fries
- Hamburgers and fries
- Hot dogs and fries
- Chicken tenders and fries
Families are certainly grateful for Moore’s program.
“Getting the free lunches for the children helps provide a meal for them and gives us less stress, knowing that they have something to eat,” local mom Sheree Andrews said.
Moore credits community donations for making the program possible, calling it proof that “unity can happen” and that neighbors can come together to support one another.
One customer recently bought $500 worth of meals for kids, and encouraged others to chip in what they can to pay it forward for the children.
To continue the program throughout the summer, Moore is asking for help from the community.
She wants to expand the free meals for kids to Mondays, and she wants to feed more than 75 kids a day, which means she needs to increase her staff for the program.
The ultimate goal is to feed every child who comes to the truck throughout the entire summer. But the estimated cost to operate the program is about $1,200 per day, including food and staffing expenses
The Food Doctor has a GoFundMe account where you can donate to the project. You can also head down to the food truck and tell them you want to sponsor meals for kids.
“Every donation, sponsorship, and meal purchased helps us continue serving local families and making sure no child goes hungry this summer,” Moore wrote on GoFundMe. “Together, we can feed our kids and strengthen our community one meal at a time.”
Moore also emphasized that support isn’t only financial. She said sharing information about the program, praying for the effort, and spreading awareness can also help.