As summer vacation begins, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is expanding its Summer Child Feeding Initiative to address growing child hunger in the region. According to Feeding America’s latest "Map the Meal Gap" study, 1 in 5 children in Northwest Pennsylvania experience food insecurity.

The nonprofit will now extend its summer nutrition services into Crawford, Forest, and McKean counties, in addition to its ongoing efforts across its 11-county service area.

Forest County reports the region’s highest child food insecurity rate at 27.1%, followed by Elk County at 17.9%.

The initiative will include:

   •School Pantries staying open through the summer.

   •Summer BackPacks filled with kid-friendly, nutritious food distributed via schools and community partners.

“No child should have to worry where their next meal will come from,” said Gregory D. Hall, CEO of Second Harvest. “While school is out, hunger is not.”

Community members can support the effort by donating at nwpafoodbank.org.

Families in need can call the Food Helpline at (814) 459-3663 ext. 117.

For county-specific data, visit here.