There are a lot of mouths to feed in Kaleigh Ferguson’s household.

That is why the mother of four appreciates the free meals distributed during the summertime at Lena Whitmore Elementary School in Moscow.

Her family joined many others at the school Friday to pick up meals provided by the Moscow School District and two Moscow churches. Families can pick up enough lunches to last the weekend.

“It helps ease the burden of trying to figure out how to feed four kids,” Ferguson said.

Her 14-year-old son, Wes, enjoyed a chicken sandwich Friday.

“Free food is the best food,” he said.

The meals will available 11 a.m. to noon every Friday at Lena Whitmore until the school year starts again in August.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse have been contributing to this cause for several years, said volunteer Mary Jo Hamilton.

Hamilton said it was inspired by the League of Women Voters of Moscow’s study of poverty on the Palouse that was published in 2012. She said the study said many children do not have enough food during the summer months when schools are closed.

The church volunteers packed meals filled with fruit, vegetables, chili, milk, oatmeal and other treats for Friday’s event.

“There’s enough food in there for three days really,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said she will collect fruit from the nonprofit Backyard Harvest later this summer.

According to a news release from the churches, volunteers gave away an average of 80 bags of food per week in 2023.

Anyone interested in volunteering or making a donation should contact St. Mark’s at (208) 882-2022 or the UUCP at (208) 882-4328.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.