McKim’s IGA Works to End Summer Hunger

Independent Grocers Alliance stores are often key members of the community, with retailers and store teams supporting local organizations and food banks throughout the year. McKim’s IGA in Mt. Vernon, Indiana is taking the “Hometown Proud” promise to the next level, ensuring that their neighbors will be fed this summer with a pledge to provide food to children who need it. 

Summer can be a difficult time for low-income families who no longer have access to free breakfast or lunch through school programs. In Posey County, Indiana, where McKim’s IGA is located, 11% of children live below the poverty line, with that number disproportionately higher for children of minority racial groups.  While Mt. Vernon schools have programs to ensure children can access free and reduced price meals during the academic year, meal offerings are limited to community programs hosted by churches or nonprofits once school is out -- and that creates a nutritional gap that some families are unable to fill. Summer hunger can have lasting consequences, as it puts children at increased risk for physical and mental health problems, resulting in poor educational performance and behavioral problems when school starts again.

“Some parents just can’t make it to community programs, due to a lack of transportation or an inability to get time off from work," Brian Williams, store manager at McKim’s IGA, said. "We're centrally located in our town, which is why we felt it was so urgent for us to pick up the slack."

In a statement posted on the store’s Facebook page, Williams got the word out that this summer, families in need can receive a free lunch at McKim’s IGA, with no questions asked. 

The Facebook post shared by McKim's IGA Store Manager Brian Williams.

This summer is not the first time that Williams and McKim’s IGA have worked to stop hunger in their community. They first started a bag lunch initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. After seeing Facebook posts of parents asking for help feeding their children, Williams promised to give anyone who needed it a free bagged lunch. 

“Kids weren’t going to school, and it was putting a burden on the parents,” Williams explained. 

The community embraced his project, as he received thousands of dollars in donations to continue the program. After learning that the need continues this summer, Williams says he plans to continue offering it every summer moving forward.

“I can’t buy thousands of dollars of food for the community, but if I can provide a simple lunch to someone who can’t otherwise afford it, then we want to do it. No kid, no person, should go hungry." 

For Williams, the cost of providing these lunches is small, but the value to the community is irreplaceable.

“That’s what small mom-and-pop and hometown grocery stores do — they help the community,” Williams said, noting this initiative is another key differentiator between local businesses and big box chains.

What is your store doing this summer to help your community? We want to know! Tell us here.