Schools work to feed kids during summer

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 12 (UPI) -- Maryland school officials say they are trying to help feed poor children by offering subsidized meals during the summer when they aren't in school.

The responsibility of providing federally subsidized meals to children when they are not in class partially is taken by community organizations and school officials, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Healthful lunches are brought in trucks to at least 30,000 community facilities, schools and churches across the country during the summer, the newspaper said.

"It's staggering when we look at what really exists for kids at the margins during the summer," said Ron Fairchild, executive director of the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Less than one-fifth of eligible U.S. children receive subsidized meals during the summer, the newspaper said.

Authorities say they hope their efforts will help needy children eat as healthily during the summer as they do during the school year.