Amarillo Program Feeding Over 6,000 Kids This Summer

So many are happy when the school year comes to a close in Amarillo. The break for the kids is something they look forward to. A chance to hang out with their friends, play video games, and everything else you can imagine in between.

However, for many parents, it's a stressful time. Some have to find child care, some can't keep their kids busy enough, but worst of all, some can't afford to feed them while they're on break. It's a problem that has grown even bigger in recent years, and 2026 appears to be one of the worst on record.

School Lunches Provide For So Many

With the state of the economy and the dollar not going as far as it used to, many find themselves in a spot where they can only afford to pay for enough food to cover dinners and nothing more. A lot of families rely on reduced or free school breakfast and lunch to make sure their kids are fed.

Once school is over, those meals go away for the most part, leaving those parents trying to find ways to make sure their kids are fed throughout the day. Many can't figure it out, while others have to juggle bills to make it happen.

Kids Cafe To The Rescue

Thankfully, there are programs out there to make sure kids get the nutrition and food they need. One of those programs is Kids Cafe, and they have been extremely busy this summer. Kids Cafe is a program run through the High Plains Food Bank, and they're seeing big numbers for the program this year.

This year, they're averaging over 6,000 kids they've been feeding across Amarillo and Canyon. Maribel Sotelo, the director of Kids Cafe, said the need has grown exponentially, and while she's happy they can serve so many, she's concerned about why there are so many that need the help. She said the number of kids needing food during the summer months doubles, and that's hard to hear.

If you'd like to help the mission, they are taking financial donations to be able to purchase more food, or you can volunteer your time to help serve these kiddos. You can do that by going here.