Hunger knows no bounds.

Despite portions of Butler County seeing unprecedented growth, expansion and a steadily growing tax base, a need remains.

That need is amplified when it includes children. With schools dormant for summer, many students are missing out on the guaranteed meals they were receiving during the academic year.

The meals aren’t limited to school lunches, as programs in recent years have expanded to provide breakfast, take-home snacks and meals for evenings and weekends. The goal is addressing the issue that inadequate nutrition can affect how a student learns and performs in the classroom.

More than a dozen food pantries and cupboards exist in Butler County, serving people of every age and economic status. Some, including the Southwest Butler Food Cupboard, have stepped up to fill the void left during the summer months by providing meals for children.

Once a month during the summer, children and their families come to the cupboard to not only receive various foodstuffs — including meat, dairy, bread and other items — but also to take advantage of the organization’s Kits4Kids Program. They receive a box — or two, depending on family size — containing the types of foods and snacks kids enjoy as well as single-serve meals to take some of the pressure off those families who struggle to put food on the table three times a day.

The program is in its fourth year, with more than 80 children taking part last month. While that number represents a fraction of the students and children who live in the area, it undoubtedly isn’t indicative of the number of children dealing with hunger each day. National statistics indicate one in five children will experience hunger during the course of a given year. Even more — about 12 million nationwide — live in “food-insecure” homes.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this means families don’t have enough food for every family member to live a healthy life. While it can mean that there is no food available, it also can mean that children get smaller portions than what they require, or the meals don’t provide adequate nutrition.

The Food Cupboard and others like it are doing a great community service in helping children who can’t help themselves. Making sure the students are fed and healthy is crucial to ensuring their success in and out of the classroom, and these organizations should be commended for their work.

So too should the volunteers who help staff distribution events as well as those who make monetary and other donations to food pantries. Programs such as food pantries rely heavily on members of the community to help them succeed, and it takes more than a few donations during peak seasons — the holidays in particular — to keep them operating and serving those who are in need.

We encourage residents to find a pantry or organization in their community and give whatever they can. Ultimately, volunteering for such organizations is helping ensure the future will remain bright for all involved.