Kids in this small Washington town worry about food when school is out for summer

Summer can be tough for low-income students who depend on school for most of their meals. But it’s especially tougher for kids living in rural Washington. That’s because the hurdles to addressing food insecurity here are often more complicated, compared to urban areas.

Each week Shelley Acuña tows her trailer full of bagged food to Concrete, Wash. Her first stop is Concrete Elementary School. Soon after she parks the truck, a handful of students come by to help her unload.

“Alright girlfriend, you got it,” said Acuña as she handed the bags to one of the students. “Just don’t hurt yourself, OK, ‘cause it’s heavy.”

The donation comes from a food bank in Burlington, Wash., about 30 miles away, where she and her fellow volunteers assemble.