After a summer of hunger, the new school year brings stability and hope
For thousands of children across the Ozarks, the start of a new school year means more than just fresh notebooks and sharpened pencils. For many, it signals a return to something far more essential: reliable meals and daily stability.
“Back-to-school season is a relief for families who’ve been stretched to the limit all summer long,” said Bambie Wurzburger at Crosslines Community Outreach. “When school cafeterias close for summer break, many parents face impossible choices — between rent and groceries, or between feeding themselves or their kids.”
According to Springfield’s Community Focus Report, one in five children in southwest Missouri struggles with food insecurity. Over the summer months, that number often worsens as families lose access to free and reduced-price school meals. On average, the food pantry at Crosslines serves 28% more people during the months when school is not in session the majority of the month (June, July, August) than it does the rest of the year. Much of that increase is from families with children.
For many local parents, food pantries become a lifeline. “We’ve had families come through our pantry excited about cereal and milk,” Wurzburger shared. “It breaks your heart.”
Now, with schools reopening, Crosslines is doubling down on efforts to help children start the year strong.
“Thanks to our generous supporters, we’re able to support families who may be directing financial resources towards school supplies instead of food this month,” said Wurzburger. “We’re not only filling bellies but restoring dignity. We’re making sure kids have what they need to learn, grow, and feel like they belong. They shouldn’t have to choose between new shoes and cereal.”
Local teachers are also feeling the difference. With inflation still squeezing household budgets, classrooms are once again filling with students whose families are navigating hardship.
“When kids are fed, they’re better able to focus and succeed,” said Tina Miller, Director of the Math and Reading Buddy Programs at CCO. “That’s why programs like ours don’t stop once school starts — that’s when the real work to secure their futures begins.”
Crosslines is currently seeking donations to cover the costs to provide milk to each family served – surpassing several hundred each week.
“This is a moment for our community to step up,” Wurzburger said. “We can’t fix every challenge overnight, but we can make sure children don’t start the school year hungry.”
To learn more or make a donation, visit ccozarks.org/donate