Thanks to the Vikings Children’s Fund Summer Lunch Program, presented by Target, 60 kids got a chance to check out Vikings Training Camp on Monday, August 2^nd.  The kids, from the Salvation Army in Mankato, got on the field to view the Vikings practice, played in the Kids Zone, colored with sidewalk chalk and enjoyed a healthy lunch. But perhaps the best part of the day was when Vikings players Bernard Berrian, Ray Edwards, Chris Kluwe and Adrian Peterson stopped by to sign autographs.

The Vikings Children’s Fund Summer Lunch Program, presented by Target, has helped secure more than 500,000 additional grant supported meals to Minnesota children ages 1 to 18 this summer.

While at the event we also extended our sincere thanks to the Vikings for their work to end hunger by presenting the Hunger Hero award to Vikings team owner Mark Wilf.

Big thanks to the Minnesota Vikings’ leadership for all you do to support hungry kids in our community!

During the school year, approximately 290,000 Minnesota children receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. However, when the school year ends for the summer, only about 20% of these kids continue to receive these low-cost or free nutritious meals. That means that for nearly three months out of every year, more than 232,000 children in Minnesota aren’t getting the nourishment they need.

To fill the nutritional gap facing these children during the summer months, Second Harvest Heartland has teamed up with the Minnesota Vikings and Target to work with the Minnesota Department of Education to help facilitate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in Minnesota and help bring more meals to more kids this summer.

Do you know a family who could use a little extra help with food this summer?

Check out the Summer Lunch Map, an easy-to-use tool for finding free food for kids across the state this summer. Families can also call 2-1-1 from a landline or text 612-516-FOOD for locations.

Want to help?

Click here to make a gift. Together, we can ensure healthy, plentiful meals for Minnesota kids who need them to grow and thrive.

The Vikings Children’s Fund Summer Lunch Program hosted 50 young fans for a healthy lunch and a VIP view of training camp yesterday, as part of the Fund’s commitment to building participation in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program across Minnesota.

Vikings players, including running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Ray Edwards, were on site encouraging kids to continue healthy eating habits over the summer. Youth from Mankato’s three Salvation Army-sponsored feeding sites attended, in celebration of the Vikings organization’s effort to provide an additional 200,000 meals to Minnesota children this summer.

“Sofia Shibly, 9, eats at least one lunch a week, courtesy of the Salvation Army’s mobile unit in her Mankato neighborhood. She said meals have included mashed potatoes and gravy, corn dogs and pizza. But a program administrator quickly chimed in that healthier foods are a key part of the meals.

But Shibly said today was the best meal of all since it was at the Vikings training camp.

‘I had a lot of fun,’ she said.”
(via Pioneer Press)

Pictured below: Young Vikings fans with Adrian Peterson and Ray Edwards of the Vikings, Joan Wadkins of Second Harvest Heartland

View the full set on Flickr

Special thanks to the Minnesota Vikings for all their efforts!

We’re excited to announce a first-time partnership with the Minnesota Vikings and Hunger Solutions which will help provide an additional 200,000 meals to be distributed in Minnesota through the existing Summer Feeding program for children in our community!

The Minnesota Vikings have donated a generous $92,000 to this effort, which will help expand the existing USDA-sponsored program. “The Vikings Children’s Fund aims to positively impact the well-being of our children and help provide them with the means to be healthy, strong and vibrant members of our community as they grow,” said Steve LaCroix, vice president of sales and marketing, chief marketing officer with the Minnesota Vikings. “Proper nutrition will always be essential to a child’s well-being, which is why the Vikings are honored to participate in this program with Hunger Solutions Minnesota and Second Harvest Heartland.”

During the schoolyear, 270,000 children in Minnesota depend on free and reduced-cost school lunches – but only 20% of those children receive the same subsidized meals during the summer.

Together, we can help increase participation in the program and provide more meals to hungry children in our community. Visit www.missingmeals.org to learn more about this exciting new initiative, or visit www.hungersolutions.org.