KUOW reports on new findings from the Food Research and Action Center showing there are fewer summer meal programs available for low-income children while the need is rising. In Washington state there are 700 schools, parks and community centers that serve sack lunches — that's 23 fewer than last summer.

(June 29, 2010) — About 700 schools, parks, community centers, apartment complexes, trailer parks and other sites will be providing summer meals to hungry children across Washington this summer, down from 723 last summer.

The Children’s Alliance is honoring five state lawmakers as 2010 Legislative Champions for Children because of their outstanding service on behalf of children:

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown
Speaker of the House Frank Chopp
Representative Roger Goodman
Representative Ruth Kagi
Senator Claudia Kauffman

Next month at our annual luncheon, the Children’s Alliance will present five awards honoring child advocates whose work has improved the lives of Washington children.

Lawmakers in Olympia are considering establishing a Washington Food Policy Forum, currently sponsored by Sen. Ken Jacobson, Senate Bill 6343. Linda Stone, senior food policy coordinator of the Children's Alliance, and Jim Baird, a farmer in the Royal City area, discuss why the Forum would address food costs, access to healthy food and finding ways to support local farms. They write: