There is also a summer lunch program run by Open Door Central, which is part of the Childrens Resource Network, at Summerfield-Petersburg Branch Library, 60 E. Center St., Petersburg. Lunches are served from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, through Aug. 28. To register your child for the Petersburg lunches, call (734) 279-1913.

In general, students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches during the school year are also eligible for  summer lunch programs.

But the Center for Civil Justice and Food Research and Action Center are reporting that the summer lunch programs are feeding far fewer children than they could be. For every 100 Michigan children who get school lunches during the school year, only nine of them get summer lunches. In the meantime, increased demand on food banks, which usually spikes during the summer anyway, is stretching available resources to the limit. The Center for Civil Justice cites Food Bank Council of Michigan statistics that the number of state residents seeking food bank assistance has increased 30 percent over last year.

So … what would this information mean to you or a loved one as a Michigan family on a budget?

First, be aware that summer lunch programs do exist. Here is a database that lists most of the ones in Michigan. If you live near one of those sites, and qualify for the lunch service, sign your kids up. The lunch programs will help with your grocery bill.

Second, if you live in Monroe County, Mich., you may also be near one of the God Works! dinner locations. This is a free meal with no applications required and no income guidelines. Families are expected and welcome at God Works! Even adding one or two free dinners to your week will help with your grocery bill.

Third, if you do get food stamps (Michigan Bridge Card), then do what you can to get the most food for that allocation. You can use food stamps to purchase groceries from Angel Food Ministries and Great Food for All, which are discount grocery purchase programs available at various locations in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. And if you can’t afford your own Sunday newspaper to get grocery coupons for the retail stores, then ask your friends or relatives for leftover coupons or find a community coupon swap box. My local readers can find coupon swap boxes at Dorsch Memorial Branch Library and Milan Public Library.