Did you know more than 250,000 North Carolina children who receive free and reduced lunches at school?

But when summer comes around, those children can no longer turn to their schools for inexpensive breakfasts and lunches. As a result, many parents and caregivers often turn to local food banks to help fill the gap.

But food banks traditionally see a drop off in donations during the summer, according to Christy Simmons, spokeswoman for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The food bank serves 34 North Carolina counties, providing food to many agencies that distribute donations directly to those in need.

To help raise awareness about the summer need, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has launched Kids Summer Stock.

In June, a series of concerts, festivals and other events were held to generate donations to the food bank to help fill the summer gap.

But just because those events are over, doesn't mean the need is still not there, Simmons said. So Food Bank officials are urging folks to host community food drives or donate online to help keep their shelves stocked.

Organizing a food drive isn't hard, Simmons said. There are simple steps and tips on the Food Bank's website.

For more information on how you can help with Kids Summer Stock log onto http://content.foodbankcenc.org/ or call 919-875-0707.