Roanoke program feeding hungry kids expanding in 2016

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ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - A program to help low-income families feed their children when school isn't in session and prevent the summer learning gap is expanding.

"Feed and Read" kicks off on Monday. It's the third year for the Roanoke Public Libraries and YMCA partnership.

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New feeding locations are being added this year and meals will be served for longer amounts of time.

Sheila Umberger, the director of libraries, said the program is adding an evening feed at the Melrose branch this year.

"You always want to think that children are not hungry in our community and it's just honestly not true," said Umberger. "That's really something that I think that we realize because we see children showing up from young up to 17, 18; teenagers, very hungry."

Last year, Feed and Read fed nearly 4,200 children.