The holiday period is drawing to a close, something that is likely to be viewed with relief by those parents who find it a financial strain to feed their children during the long summer break.
Almost 100,000 children in Northern Ireland are entitled to free school meals which ensures that nutritious lunches, and sometimes breakfasts, are provided to pupils from families on low incomes.
But what happens when term ends and weeks of holidays stretch ahead?
Those families have to find the money for meals that would otherwise be provided in school and that can be a major difficulty for many.
We have already seen increased demand for food banks while recently St Patrick's soup kitchen reported a rise in young families turning up for a hot meal and essential provisions.
The issue of 'holiday hunger', when children who normally receive free school meals are at risk of missing out during school closure, is one that is gaining wider recognition, as we reported on Tuesday.
A number of schemes across the north have been set up to address this serious problem, not only providing nutritious meals but aiming to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the youngsters attending the projects.
In Derry, the Education Authority Youth Service is piloting the Fuel for Fun programme, aiming to deliver 23,000 lunches to 1,400 young people. The meals are prepared and delivered by young people volunteering their time and effort. Children also take part in healthy eating workshops.
There are other schemes and it is absolutely commendable that organisations and volunteers are working so hard to tackle this problem but as a society we should be concerned that such a step is needed in 21st century Northern Ireland.
It is deeply disturbing that some parents do not have enough money to feed their children - and themselves - properly.
The link between poverty and low educational attainment has been well documented and there is an imperative on government to address the deprivation and underachievement that contribute to a range of problems in our society.
Austerity measures, including the impact of universal credit, have made life much harder for those already struggling to cope.
It is a damning indictment on the decisions taken by government that programmes are needed in this day and age to prevent children going hungry.
