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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- This year, the United Way marks 125 years of service and here in Wapello County, they will celebrate with the fifth annual Day of Action on June 21.

This year's Day of Action will focus on targeting hunger in an effort to improve all aspects of the community. In Wapello County alone, 5,200 people are food insecure at any given time and children are particularly affected by hunger.

"During the school year, 52% of our children in our community qualify for their free and reduced price lunches," said Desiree Johnson, Executive Director of the United Way of Wapello County. "Of course, during the summertime they don't have access to those meals and then they suffer during the summertime and there's not enough food for them to eat."

The Ottumwa YMCA and Salvation Army are hosting a summer feeding program, where children struggling with hunger can come for a meal. The Salvation Army will be open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch, the YMCA for 11:30a.m.-1 p.m. lunch and breakfast from 7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. will also be available at Calvary Baptist Church.

Programs are also being held in Fremont, at the elementary school from 8 a.m.-8:30 a.m. for breakfast and 11:30 for lunch, Moravia, at the high school for a 8 a.m. breakfast and 11:30 lunch, at Drake Avenue Christian Church in Appanoose for 11:30 lunch and at Van Buren Elementary School for breakfast at 8-8:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:30.

In Missouri, Kirksville's Food 4 Kids program will run June 4-June 29 from 11:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the high school cafeteria, and at the same times from July 9- August 3 at Brashear Park, PC Mills Park, Jaycee park and Memorial Park.

It is also important to donate food this time of the year because donations tend to decrease in the summer, while demand is up.

"Demand on the food at the food banks and food pantries are higher than ever," Johnson said. "More and more people are accessing or requesting access to more food and since their food stocks are low, United Way is our focus of our day of action is to conduct a food drive this year on June 21st, the longest day of the year."

For more information on the Day of Action, visit the United Way of Wapello County's website.