(Feature Impact) The joy of being a kid on summer vacation offers a time to explore with your friends, discover new things about the world and yourself and recharge for a few months before heading back to school in the fall. However, for millions of families, the end of the school year also marks the beginning of a stressful season filled with tough choices, as children can fall behind in the months away from the classroom.

The summer gap begins when the school doors close and many children lose access to the daily routines, educational support and dependable nutrition that help them thrive. For families already juggling tight budgets and demanding schedules, summer can quickly become a season of added pressure and stress.

Summer learning loss – or the decline in academic skills and learning during the school break – can have a lasting impact on academic outcomes. Studies show over the summer, students can forget 20-30% of what they learned during the school year. Without the right support, students often start the new school year playing catchup, which can cause them to fall further behind.

Summer can also intensify food insecurity. Of the more than 22 million kids who rely on free or reduced-priced school meals, many lose access to these vital programs over the summer. When those meals disappear, families must stretch already limited budgets to cover up to 10 additional meals a week per child. In fact, recent United Way Worldwide data from 211 – the free 24/7 helpline that connects people with local resources – identified food access as one of the most pressing needs facing millions of families nationwide.

These overlapping pressures fall especially hard on millions of working families living paycheck to paycheck, including ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households. They earn above the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford basic expenses like housing, medicine, food and transportation.

Addressing the summer gap requires a community-wide approach and solutions that meet hardworking families where they are. For example, United Way Community Schools are community-based hubs that bring together schools, social services agencies, volunteers and other community partners to provide students and families with essential support like tutoring, food access and health and wellness resources.

Families also need easy, practical, daily tips and local resources to make ends meet and help their kids stay on track.

Learning that Fits Your Day

For busy families, low- or no-cost learning moments that fit into packed schedules can make a real difference. Many communities and nonprofits offer dedicated programs to keep children active and learning during the summer, such as:

• Summer art classes, creative writing workshops and digital literacy tutoring at local libraries
• Free monthly book deliveries and reading challenges through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – a United Way partner – or book exchanges at Little Free Libraries in high-traffic areas
• Gardening classes, nature appreciation classes and swim lessons through local parks and recreation departments
• Free weekly youth workshops offered by many public museums, zoos and botanical gardens
• Free virtual museum field trips through institutions like the Smithsonian and NASA Glenn Research Center
• Free online courses in topics ranging from coding to art or language learning

Accessing Your Community’s Food Network

Families shouldn’t have to choose between nutritious food and other essentials. Help is available to ensure kids have the nutrition needed to thrive over the summer. While resources vary by community, examples include:

• Youth-serving organizations serving as open summer meal sites, offering free breakfast and lunch to kids and teens
• City parks departments offering daily meal stations
• School districts offering summer meal programs; food delivery may be an option
• Local places of worship hosting open-door meal programs or distributing weekend grocery bags for families

For those looking to make a difference this summer, consider lending a hand to help children and families. Volunteering is a rewarding way to give back to your community. Whether it’s mentoring, serving meals, reading with students or supporting local programs, even a small time investment can make a lasting impact. After all, when families thrive, communities thrive.

To learn more about childhood summer learning programs, food initiatives and ways to support your community, visit unitedway.org.

SOURCE:

United Way Worldwide

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Child hunger isn’t an abstract issue—it’s a daily reality for families in communities across the U.S. That’s why StarKist® is renewing its long-running partnership with Feed the Children through the Put Child Hunger to Bed™ campaign, turning simple, everyday actions into tangible support for kids who need it most.

Announced April 30, 2026, the campaign runs May 1 through September 30, 2026, and gives consumers two straightforward ways to participate: buy a product many already keep in their pantry, or donate directly online. Either way, the goal is the same—help more children and families access nutritious food and essential resources.

Two ways everyday choices can make an impact

StarKist is inviting shoppers to join the movement with built-in giving tied to routine purchases:

• Buy a tuna pouch, give a pouch: For every StarKist tuna pouch purchased, StarKist will donate one pouch to Feed the Children, up to 100,000 pouches.
• Donate online, double the impact: StarKist will match consumer donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000, when donations are made through the campaign site.

Consumers can learn more or donate directly at StarKist.com/feedthechildren.

A partnership with more than 15 years behind it

StarKist and Feed the Children aren’t new collaborators. According to StarKist, the organizations have worked together for more than 15 years, combining product donations and financial contributions to support children and families experiencing hunger and hardship.

Michael Merritt Jr., Vice President and Head of Marketing & Innovation at StarKist, said the campaign is designed to make participation easy and meaningful—so consumers can be part of the solution through actions that fit naturally into everyday life.

Feed the Children also emphasized the broader impact: when families have reliable access to food and essentials, it doesn’t just help them get through today—it supports children’s development and future opportunities.

Jax joins the campaign to amplify awareness

To help bring the message to more families and communities, StarKist is partnering with a group of creators and advocates, including musician and mom Jax (@jax), who has 14.7 million TikTok followers and is known for uplifting, relatable content.

Jax shared that becoming a mom has deepened her perspective on food insecurity—and that no child should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. As part of the collaboration, she’s also teaming up with Charlie The Tuna® for a new jingle tied to the campaign.

More voices joining the movement

Alongside Jax, StarKist is working with additional creators to encourage participation and share practical ways to support families:

• Becca Kufrin (@bkoof) – TV personality and mom
• Kit Hoover (@kithoover) – TV host
• Marina Chaparro (@nutrichicos) – Registered pediatric dietitian
• Samantha Busch (@samanthabusch) – Lifestyle influencer and philanthropist

The mix of entertainment, family lifestyle, and nutrition voices is intentional: the campaign is built to meet people where they already are—online, in stores, and in daily routines.

Why tuna pouches are the campaign’s centerpiece

StarKist is centering the campaign around its tuna pouches because they’re designed for convenience and nutrition—ready-to-eat, fully cooked, and available in more than 20 varieties. The company notes that each pouch delivers 12 grams or more of protein, making it an easy option for quick lunches, snacks, or on-the-go meals.

The bigger idea: when a product is already part of a household routine, tying it to giving can help scale impact—turning a small choice into support for families facing food insecurity.

How to get involved

If you want to participate between May 1 and September 30, 2026, you can:

1. Purchase any StarKist tuna pouch (any size, type, or flavor) at your local grocery store or retailer
2. Visit StarKist.com/feedthechildren to learn more or donate (with matching available up to the campaign limit)

Together, StarKist and Feed the Children say they’re working toward a shared goal: helping ensure kids can focus on growing, learning, and dreaming—rather than worrying about their next meal.

About the organizations

• StarKist Co. is a socially responsible company focused on convenient, nutritious proteins, known for its single-serve pouch products and its longtime mascot, Charlie The Tuna®.
• Feed the Children is a global nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in the U.S. and around the world by providing food, essentials, and opportunities to children and families.

To read more about community-related events, visit www.stmdailynews.com and search for “community.”

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Chicken Salad Chick and the guests who keep its dining rooms busy just delivered a major win for pediatric cancer research and family support in Atlanta and beyond.

The fast-casual chicken salad brand announced that through the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation, it raised a record-breaking $382,604.30 for CURE Childhood Cancer throughout 2025. The donation was presented at the companys annual owner conference on March 23, 2026, surpassing last years total by more than $50,000 and marking the largest single gift in the partnerships history.

A hometown partnership with real-world reach

Both organizations are headquartered in Atlanta, and the relationship has become a consistent, community-powered pipeline of support for families navigating childhood cancer. For CURE, that support helps fund targeted research and provide crisis-oriented assistance to patients and caregiversthe kind of help that matters immediately when a diagnosis changes everything.

For families facing a diagnosis right now, that impact is real, said Kristin Connor, CEO of CURE Childhood Cancer. It means more options, more precision, and a better chance at a good outcome.

How the $382K was raised: cookies, cards, and local giving

The 2025 total came from two guest-facing initiatives that have become annual traditions:

• Cookies for a CURE (September 2025): During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Chicken Salad Chick sold its Lemon Burst Buttercream Cookies, with proceeds benefiting CURE Childhood Cancer through the foundation.
• Giving Card program (NovemberDecember 2025): The program splits proceeds50% to CURE Childhood Cancer and 50% to local charities chosen by individual restaurants. Those local partners often include organizations focused on food insecurity and other cancer-related causes.

That second piece is what makes the campaign feel especially community-forward: each restaurant can support national research while also backing on-the-ground organizations in its own neighborhood.

A testament to the generosity of our guests

Chicken Salad Chick President and CEO Scott Deviney credited the milestone to the people who show upguests, franchise owners, and teams across the brands footprint.

Surpassing last years total and reaching a new record is a testament to the generosity of our guests, the dedication of our franchise owners, and the passion our teams bring to serving others, Deviney said. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families facing childhood cancer.

The foundations broader mission: fighting cancer and feeding the hungry

Founded in 2014 by Kevin and Stacy Brown, the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation focuses on two core missions: fighting cancer and feeding the hungry. Since launching in 2017, the foundation has donated more than $2 million to support pediatric cancer research and address food insecurity in local communities.

The brand itself has grown to more than 335 restaurants across 22 states, giving campaigns like Cookies for a CURE a national platformand turning small guest choices into a measurable annual impact.

What to watch for

Cookies for a CURE is set to return this September, again aligning with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. For guests, its a familiar way to participate: order cookies, support families, and help fund research aimed at improving outcomes for kids facing cancer.

For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com and www.curechildhoodcancer.org.

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Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/

Want more stories that spotlight the people, places, and moments shaping our neighborhoods? Visit STM Daily News’ community section, The Bridge, for fresh local features, community voices, and impact-driven coverage: https://stmdailynews.com/the-bridge/