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No Kid Hungry: Help End Child Hunger

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For the month of September, many organizations are coming together to focus on raising awareness for child hunger, including "No Kid Hungry" and "Feeding America." Mom It Forward is excited about having the opportunity to share some of the ways each of us can make a difference.

MomsFightingHunger

The Facts About Child Hunger in the US

Hunger has a huge effect on America's children. It prevents them from reaching their full potential. If we don't help make changes now, we are going to have a huge epidemic on our hands.

  • In the United States, more than 16 million kids live in households that struggle to put food on the table.
  • Nearly 22 percent of kids under the age of 18, or approximately 16 million, live in poverty.
  • 9.8 million kids, get free or reduced priced school breakfast. On an average day, 10.6 million eligible kids go without.
  • Only 1 in 7 kids who get free or reduced meals during the school year also receive free summer meals.
  • Hunger has a huge negative effect on how a child performs in school.

Getting Up Close and Personal With Child Hunger

Growing up, we never had to worry about where our next meal would come from. But my parents were intent on helping me learn at a young age to appreciate what we had and to help those who were in need.

When I was 12 years old, I had the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to visit a friend and her family in Costa Rica for 6 weeks. My parents, recognizing that I could have more opportunities than just playing with my friend, sat me down and talked to me about those less fortunate in that country. I embarked on planning a bake sale and together with my girlfriends in Arizona, raised $30. I thought it was a huge amount of money and was excited to be able to buy a few items for a family in need once I arrived in Costa Rica.

When I got there, my friend's mom took me all by myself to the grocery store with her. She said the money I raised was enough to provide food for three families. She taught me about the staples traditional to Costa Ricans: beans, rice, sugar, and other products. She explained to me that by making everything from scratch, the families could use these supplies to eat for upwards of 6 months. I was trying to make sense of that in my 12-year-old mind, but it wasn't until I entered the homes of my friend's mom's friends from church that I got up close and personal with hunger.

When we entered the homes, my friend's mom hugged her friends and explained about our bake sale. I became keenly aware of the differences in our circumstances and realized that I could just as easily be in a similar situation as theirs. Fortunately, they were gracious and so appreciative of receiving a gift of food from a total stranger. I walked away feeling like they gave me the greater gift--their time, their kindness, and their love. More importantly, they taught me a valuable lesson that people's circumstances may be different, but we are all human beings and here to help each other... just in different ways.

I returned home from Costa Rica with one big question: "If people in Costa Rica experienced hunger, were there people in the US facing the same problem?" It didn't take long to learn the unfortunate truth that yes, people struggle with similar challenges of hunger all over the world.

Actions We Can Take to End Child Hunger

This month is "Hunger Action Month", and we have the opportunity to raise awareness for children who are going without food. Here are a few ways each of us can make a difference.

  • Take the time to educate yourself. There are many programs out there on the internet that can give you ideas on how you can help to fight hunger. Through the Cooking Matters program, the "No Kid Hungry" campaign educates and empowers low-income families to stretch their food budgets so their kids get healthy meals at home.
  • Raise awareness in your social circles. Part of the way you can make a difference is to share information. Spread the word on Facebook. 1 in 6 people struggle with hunger. Tell your Facebook friends that you are joining with "Feeding America", helping those people in need. Spread the word on Twitter. Over 50 million Americans struggle to get enough to eat. Let your followers know how @FeedingAmerica is helping our neighbors.
  • Donate a meal. Did you know that when you donate $1 you can feed 8 people? For less than $10 you can feed an entire family a meal. You can also donate to your local food bank.  
  • Hold a bake sale and donate the proceeds. "No Kid Hungry" has some great ideas for how you can raise money by holding a local bake sale.

For more information about about how you can make a difference, visit these websites:

Info about Hunger Action Month:
 
Information about No Kid Hungry:
 
Information about Dine Out Week:
 
Moms Fighting Hunger Facebook page:
 
Moms Fighting Hunger Pinterest boards:

 What can you do to help fight child hunger?

 

Share Resources from the Moms Fighting Hunger Blog Hop

A number of mom bloggers have joined together to promote ideas for fighting hunger. Please link up any related posts you have and share ideas to help bring attention to this important cause. Here are the blogs where you can find inspiration and ideas throughout the month:

September 8
The Good Long Road
Kids Stuff World
September 9
Kid World Citizen
September 10
Inner Child Giving
San Antonio Mom Blogs
September 11
ButeauFull Chaos
September 12
Bits of Positivity
September 13
LatinoAmeriGringa
September 14
Your Sassy Self
September 15
Not Going Postal
September 16
All Done Monkey
September 17
Multicultural Kid Blogs
September 18
Pennies of Time
September 19
Coffee Cups and Crayons
September 20
Red White & Grew
September 21
MomitForward
September 22
September 23
Edventures with Kids
September 24
A Thrifty Diva
September 25
Crafty Moms Share
September 26
The Pleasantest Thing
September 27
Frogs & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails
September 28
Optimistic Heathen
September 29
Moments a Day
September 30
Kids Stuff World

 

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An active part of the Mom It Forward team, Jyl primarily writes about parenting, social good, and all things travel related. In a past life, Jyl was an award-winning copywriter and designer of corporate training programs for Fortune 100 companies. Offline, Jyl is married to @TroyPattee; a mom to two teen boys and a beagle named #Hashtag; loves large amounts of cheese, dancing, and traveling; and lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Topping her bucket list is the goal to visit 50 countries by the time she's 50.

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