But, this summer, hundreds of children in the Rio Grande Valley have been thrown a life preserver. Participating in Feed the Body, Feed the Mind--This Summer, a number of summer meals sites spiced up their lunch time offerings with reading and literacy activities. Literacy Connexus provided books to ten summer programs, with the hope that each child showing up for meals would read at least six--and avoid the summer slide altogether.

In Harlingen, where Angie Quezada manages four meals sites serving about 80 kids each day, the leader of her book reading competition has read more than 15. Angie assigns book reports in fun, creative formats to keep the kids accountable. "When they respond," she said, "we know they read the book."       

"Our kids really enjoy the books," Angie said. "They're learning different things from what they're reading, and saying, 'Oh, let's do this!' Our only problem is getting them to go home at the end of the day."

In two weeks, Angie will share more about her exciting program in Harlingen, where kids are high and dry, and safe from the slippery slope of the summer slide.