(Photo courtesy Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes)

An effort is underway to help get food to the needy in Kalamazoo County this summer, especially children. Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes hopes the "Food is Fuel Kids Campaign" will help bridge a gap that develops during the summer. WMUK's Andy Robins spoke with Loaves and Fishes Executive Director Anne Wend Lipsey about the campaign.

Lipsey says summer is a time that many people "kick back" and relax and that can depress donations. But she says poor families need to eat all year, even when the month lasts longer than their food supply. The new campaign hopes to raise $50,000 and 50,000 pounds of food to meet the need.

Lipsey says demand has risen sharply in recent years. Even though the economy has improved somewhat, she says Loaves and Fishes served 35 percent more people in May 2011 than it did at the same time the year before. Demand for food assistance is expected to rise by 16 percent for the year. In 2010 the agency served about 86,000 people.

If you're interested in donating to the "Food is Fuel Kids Campaign" you can get more information here or by calling (269) 488-2617.