MIDDLEVILLE, Michigan — First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited West Michigan on Wednesday, making two stops in Middleville and Traverse City.
Her visit came amid controversy over her husband, Joe Biden’s performance in the presidential debate.
Many people are concerned about President Biden’s ability to run for a second term, with some arguing he should drop out of the race.
But instead of talking about her husband’s presidency, Dr. Biden used her stop in Middleville to highlight nutrition programs her administration has implemented to ensure children don’t go hungry while school is out.
Her first stop Wednesday was YMCA Camp Manitou Lin, where she received a warm welcome from hundreds of campers.
She then took to the podium to highlight nutrition programs being implemented under the Biden administration that are helping children and families.
These programs ensure children have healthy meals during the summer when they can’t rely on the federally funded free and reduced meals provided by schools during the school year.
“Summer should be a time of joy and freedom, of learning and growing outside the classroom, but for too many children, that summer is stolen from them by hunger,” Biden said.
According to Dr. Biden, one in six children across the nation faces hunger.
The program currently helping to combat this statistic is called SUN Meals.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides free nutritious meals and snacks to children at schools, camps and other summer meal sites.
Diandra Jones’ daughter attends Camp Manitou Lin and is extremely grateful for the assistance.
“I can’t imagine how much less stressful it will be not having to worry about buying extra groceries to make lunch every day,” Jones said.
Biden also introduced a new program called “SUN Bucks,” which will give families with school-age children $120 to buy groceries over the summer.
SUN Bucks will serve 21 million children nationwide this summer, including 900,000 in Michigan.
“My husband, President Joe Biden, is committed to helping ease the stress caused by rising costs for parents across the country,” Dr. Biden said. “Joe believes no parent should have to worry about how they’re going to feed their children.”
Dr. Biden went on to note that the White House is currently working to lower grocery prices, saying he personally knows the detrimental impact it has on families when they can’t put food on the table.
SUN Meals To-Go is another program launched by the Biden administration.
The program allows rural families to receive free meals or have them delivered to their homes without applying.
SUN Meals To-Go provides nutritious meals to children 18 and under throughout the summer.
In addition to his visit to Camp Manitou Lin, Dr. Biden visited with local “hidden helpers,” the military children of wounded, ill or injured veterans who participate in the Camp Coral program.
The visit was part of her “Joining Forces” initiative, which aims to support families, caregivers and survivors of military personnel and veterans.
Dr. Biden and Senator Stabenow also visited a small group of campers who were working on a mural that, once completed, will be brought back to the White House and displayed in East Lansing after the Independence Day holiday.
It aims to raise awareness for the 2.3 million children of wounded, ill or injured military personnel and veterans.
