The coolest thing I learned at United Way this week: There is a solution to combat childhood hunger

Ursula Adams Director of Digital Engagement United Way for Southeastern Michigan

File this one under "Good News, Bad News."

The coolest thing I learned this week? There is a simple, effective solution to combat summer childhood hunger already in place.

So, what's the bad news? The bad news is that no one knows about it.

Every day more than half a million kids in the state of Michigan rely on free and reduced-price lunch for the nutrition they need to thrive. But once school lets out for the summer, many of these kids will go hungry. And that's unacceptable becaue FREE summer lunch is available to all Michigan kids under the age of 18, but many just don't know it. In fact, only 15% of the kids that rely on free and reduced-price lunches during the school year take advantage of a summer meal program of any kind.

As part of our work with Michigan No Kid Hungry, we are launching two innovative methods to help raise kids and their families find free summer meal programs. By texting MIHUNGRY to 877-877 or by simply calling 2-1-1, they will have access to up-to-date information on summer meals sites, regardless of where they reside in the state.

We even made this really cool Summer Food  Outreach Flyer talking all about it. And  here is where you come in...

I need you to help us spread the word about free summer lunches. It is as simple as downloading our Summer Food Outreach Flyer now and posting it throughout your community. Post the flyer on the bulletin boards at your place of worship, at your local coffee shop, in your community center, at your day care, at the corner gas station - anywhere with high visibility.

That's it all it takes to feed a child - download a flyer and share the flyer. It couldn't be any simpler and it couldn't be any more important.