Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples says Texas faces a challenge heftier than its ailing budget or severed social services – its hungry children.

He's launched an awareness effort to highlight the state's overlooked summer food programs and nourish kids.

"Texas leads the nation in many things," said Staples, whose department oversees the state's school nutrition policies. "Child hunger should not be one of them."

More children in Texas live uncertain about their next meal than in any other state, according to the hunger-relief charity Feeding America. Summer poses the hardest stretch for more than 2 million Texas students who receive free and reduced-price meals during the school year. Aid remains available during the summer, but about 85 percent of eligible children no longer get help.

Staples vows to reverse these figures by targeting everyone he can – starting with mayors, schools and nonprofits. His department has partnered with Baylor University's Texas Hunger Initiative to entice sponsors and drum up attention in traveling town hall meetings.

He has also persuaded more than 50 officials – including Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert – to participate in a mayor's challenge this summer to reach more children. That's four times as many leaders as in the program's inauguration last year.

"I'm challenging them to take personal responsibility," said Staples, who attributes the limited summer participation to a lack of transportation and communication. "We're getting local leaders together who can best find solutions based on local solutions. It's simply inexcusable not matching resources up with need."

The federal government reimbursed the department about $46 million for its summer food programs last year. No supplemental funding comes from the state. Most sites exist in communities where at least 50 percent of children qualify for free or reduced-price meals, although any school-age child can eat at the locations.

"The funding is kind of a bottomless pit," said Jeremy Everett, director of the Texas Hunger Initiative. "We are just unaware how to utilize it."

"When we looked at the scope of why we have so much childhood food insecurity, it became glaringly obvious it was the low participation rate in the summer meals program," Everett said. "Our job as facilitators is to get everyone around the table. This summer is the first step."

Staples' Democratic challenger, Hank Gilbert, has accused the Republican of using the federal funds to snag name recognition. The campaign pointed to television advertisements that feature Staples selling nutrition programs.

"He should be promoting this equally every single year, not just in a year he's running for re-election," said Vince Leibowitz, Gilbert's campaign manager. "He's using money from this program to promote his own political gain. This is money that should be spent on Texas kids."

Staples said he's promoting merits of good health – not himself. He's made his "three E's" – education, exercise and eating right – an administrative mantra.

"If we are going to change the dangerous trend of hunger and obesity threatening the lives of children and the Texas economy – because it's impacting the workforce – we must change lifestyles," he said.

Visit www.summerfood.org to find a site or learn how to become a sponsor.

Call 211 to get information about nearby summer food programs, including hours of operation.