What’s for Lunch? is a Literacy ConneXus project designed to provide access to books for children participating in summer meals programs.

In Texas it is estimated that 200,000 children will participate in one of 6,000 summer meals sites in 2019. Many of these children lack access to books at home. All children who do not read during the summer are at risk for 

losing gains made the previous year. It’s called summer slide, and it’s cumulative. However, children who read four to six books during the summer can avoid the summer reading slide.

Through What’s for Lunch? Literacy ConneXus provides books and support to churches that accept the challenge of helping children avoid the summer reading slide.

What What’s for Lunch? is not — it’s not a summer meals program. We partner with summer meals programs at schools, libraries, community agencies and other venues that do provide food. Interestingly, when summer meals programs offer something other than food, participation is increased. Other programming may include music, arts & crafts, sports, Vacation Bible School, or reading, but studies indicate that meals + activities  = greater participation.