Food Lifeline’s Kids Cafe program will expand this month in Bellevue by providing after school snacks and meals at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue’s Club Teen Center, 15228 Lake Hills Blvd.

The meals are provided at no charge without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

Food Lifeline says that nearly one in four children in Western Washington is at risk of going hungry and the consequences of hunger and malnutrition to children are serious and can include diminished performance in school as well as cause delays in physical and cognitive development.

Partners of Food Lifeline providing funding for the Kids Cafe program include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Regence BlueShield, and Share Our Strength.

Food Lifeline is a local hunger relief organization that serves almost 300 food banks and meal programs in Western Washington.