Youth Nutrition Outreach

In the United States, food insecurity impacts too many families. Did you know that one in six U.S. children don’t know where their next meal will come from? Or that 10.2 percent (13.5 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2021? And that around 14 million children require immediate nutrition assistance?

Unfortunately, in Mississippi, the numbers are more staggering. One in five children face food insecurity daily. 

At the Y, the staff works hard to change those statistics. 

The Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi has served over 104,000 healthy meals and snacks so far in 2023.

Here are more of our numbers:

• In 2022, the Y served over 94,000 healthy meals and snacks.
• In 2021, the Y served over 103,00 meals and snacks. 
• Y worked through COVID to serve over 86,000 meals and snacks in 2019 and 2020.

The Y is one of the top 3 organizations in Mississippi that offers a feeding program. With 14 feeding sites across the state of Mississippi, the Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi shows their care for the greater good.

THE Y SEEKS TO IMPROVE CHILDREN’S HEALTH IN EVERY COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

Kids thrive when their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development is nurtured. By creating more healthy choices, the Y’s Healthy Eating Physical Activity (HEPA) Standards lay the foundation for a positive youth development journey.

Our Y is part of a bigger movement. More than 1,000 YMCA sites across the country are collaborating to ensure children have continued access to healthy meals, year round.