During the summer, you’ll often find 13-year-old Tyleeq outside with his two younger brothers, playing cornhole or scrimmaging at a nearby basketball court near their home in Waynesboro, Virginia. The three are practically inseparable. “My youngest brother, A.J., is six—he’s pretty rowdy,” Tyleeq said. “My second brother, Draylin, is nine. He’s a really big hugger.”
The boys live with their grandmother, Belinda, and as the oldest, Tyleeq helps out whenever he can. “My grandmother does so much for us,” he said. “She brings out the best in us, so I try to do anything I can for her.” When he’s not at home, Tyleeq spends his summer days at the local Boys & Girls Club with his brothers, where he eats breakfast and lunch—meals he would normally get at school. “It means when I get home, I’m not hungry,” Tyleeq said. “And when I’m not hungry, I can go outside and play and have fun.”
Summer meal programs like those at the Boys & Girls Club, which partners with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, help ensure kids have enough to eat when school is out. “These programs help kids stay healthy during the summer so they can be ready for school in the fall,” said Genie Foster, the club’s chef. Staying healthy matters to Tyleeq—especially with football season coming up. “I’m number 80,” he said proudly. “Playing football makes me happy.”
