Help Make This a Hunger Free Summer

*This compensated post is brought to you by ConAgra Foods and The Motherhood, but all words and opinions are my own.

Just Another U.S. map, right?

Except that this map is color coded to display the levels of our population who are currently food insecure. What does "food insecure" mean? Being Food Insecure is pretty straight-forward. It means that you do NOT know that there will be food in your belly tomorrow night, or maybe even tonight. In a country so abundant in food production to the point that approximately 40% is thrown into the trash every year, how is it possible that so many people are in such great need of nutrition?

Perhaps the hardest statistic to digest is this: 1 out of 6 children in the US fall into the food insecure category. ONE OUT OF SIX children in this country, a country which is literally OVERFLOWING with food, go to bed hungry every night.

You may be wondering, "How is this possible? Don't we have programs to combat this hunger? Doesn't anybody care enough to fight this?"

People care! Programs exist! They exist, but one of the difficulties for those who are in need is connecting with the assistance that is available. In the school year, for instance, over 20 million children receive free lunches at school through government assistance programs, but only approximately 2 million children continue to participate in summertime food programs. The need does not suddenly disappear from June-August. Families still struggle to obtain ample, nutritious sustenance; but lack of education about resources and/or affordable transportation results in an enormous discrepancy of assistance being received.

ConAgra Foods Foundation is in its 4th year of a 5 year pledge to help eliminate summertime child hunger. This summer, 29 food banks in 20 states will receive Hunger Free Summer grants, ranging from $20,000 to $50,000, to benefit programs that strive to take the extra step in helping the neediest of our citizens through extensive outreach.

What can you do to help today? The simplest thing of all is to click on this YouTube video, narrated by Chris O'Donnell and watch it all the way to the end. For every completed view, ConAgra will donate the monetary equivalent* of one meal to Feeding America.

 

And NOW that you've watched it, you have the ability to take it one step further by sharing this video across your social media sites! Again, every completed view = 1 meal for a very hungry child. When was the last time you were able to feed a hungry child by watching a YouTube video?

*Monetary equivalent of one meal is approximately $.13

Any facts not attributed or linked otherwise can be found on the ConAgra Foods Foundation Website or Feeding America website.

A Truly Hunger Free Summer....

*This compensated post is brought to you by ConAgra Foods and The Motherhood, but all words and opinions are my own.

I over ate today. I did and it sucked because it just doesn't "go away." It takes time before I am comfortable again and I end up feeling so guilty! Not only because I would like to be healthier (and thinner) but also because I know how very difficult it is for a vast population in America to procure enough to eat let alone be in a position to have TOO MUCH.

Being hungry... It's a different kind of pain. I can't imagine how much agony it must be to always have that empty churning in your belly. I know that missing just one meal is enough to distract me from all duties and dreams. What must the constancy of a pain in your stomach do to your ability to focus on schoolwork? When hunger is consuming you, there is little room in your life for anything sparkly and grand. How can one focus on planning for tomorrow when today is full of instability and confusion?

Did you know that more than 21 million children are enrolled in the free or reduced-cost lunch programs offered by their schools but only approximately 2 million children utilize the government supported summer feeding programs?? Think about what that number means. When I visualize millions of children potentially missing a meal every day for the entire summer (a meal that may have been their only nutritious possibility during the school year), my heart breaks.

ConAgra Foods Foundation has continued their pledge to battle this food insecurity in the summertime through the Hunger Free Summer program. Across the country, food banks will benefit from the nearly 30 grants that ConAgra issues to support programs that connect hunger insecure children with the resources that their families need to receive the assistance that is available. I am so grateful for the support that they provide and often wish that I was in a position to make a bigger difference as well.

Thankfully, there IS a simple way that all of us can help. Even if you haven't a penny to spare, you can help feed a child today. For every view of this YouTube video hosted by Chris O'Donnell, ConAgra Foods Foundation will contribute the monetary equivalent of one meal to Feeding America. Be sure to watch it to the end for the view to count!*


Now that you've watched it, please share the link on any social media site you frequent. Just think of the implications of each of us sharing the video about 5 times!! How many people do you know on Facebook or Twitter? JUST THINK of the ripple effect you can cause! YOUR help of just a few minutes of your time may result in thousands of hungry children receiving meals this summer.

What else? What else can we do? Well, if you do have a few spare dollars, please consider the Feeding America as a worthy choice to donate to. You can find more information on their program HERE. You can always call your local food bank to find out what products they are low on and throw a few extras into your shopping cart at your next grocery store run. Also, if you have any other ideas, please comment below and share with us all! This is an ongoing problem and one that cannot be solved with just outlet.

Let's make this the year that marks the change of summertime hunger!

*Be sure to watch it to the end for the view to count!!

Because No Child Should be Hungry in America...

"Mommy, I am soooo hungry! Isn't there anything to eat in this house?"

Actually, yes my child. There is. There is a bounty of food within our home. You are lucky and blessed, indeed.

Imagine the feeling of knowing that you would have to answer "No. There isn't anything to eat. And I don't have any money to buy any more food..."

Imagine the feeling of being that child that is scared to ask. Scared to ask to eat. Scared of the answer and of seeing the sadness or anger in your parents' eyes because the question is asked so often; with the answer always being the same.

Imagine the relief of knowing that you have another option. The knowledge that "Yes. I can eat today! Tonight, I can sleep easier because my stomach isn't grinding upon its own digestive juices. Tomorrow there will be food again, because I have found support from the Hunger Free Summer program run by the ConAgra Foods Foundation."

You can be a part of that solution.

You can help to stop that gnawing pain in the stomach of one child this summer. All you have to do is download this FREE booklet provided by ConAgra Foods and a meal will be donated to a hungry American kid. All you have to do is Share that link with your Facebook friends and even more meals will be donated to even more children.

It's incredibly easy to help! No money is needed. No time is really required. Just about 45 seconds of your life to contribute food for the ones who cannot feed themselves.

Will you spare that 45 seconds to feed a hungry child?

CLICK HERE FOR FREE FACEBOOK BOOKLET!


Disclaimer: Though I am being compensated by ConAgra Foods to help spread the word about their Hunger-Free Summer campaign, all opinions remain my own.

Let's Make This a Hunger Free Summer!

She called to a bouncy little boy who immediately dashed from his group of 8 and 9 year old friends to look up at her expectantly.

"This one is a fabulous artist! He is the one who created the pictures I have framed in the library and some in the hallway."

His brown eyes positively sparkled at the praise. And he wasn't shy. Oh no! This young boy (I think of him as Mr. Personality, now) proudly described what we needed to look for and where we should be looking. "Or I can just take you to see them now, if you like!"

We laughed and Rena, the director of the Boys and Girls Club/YMCA of Nashville, TN, sent him back to the game with the assurance that our group of bloggers (some of whom had very fancy and impressive cameras) would definitely check out his art.

We continued to discuss the aspects of the facility and the growth it is able to continue to have, thanks to programs like the The Second Harvest Food Bank which donates healthy food for lunch for these 100-some children. The donated food allows the children's center to focus their allotted budget on enrichment activities like the art classes that this bright-eyed boy was benefiting from. It allows these children to feel empowered in themselves and hopeful for their futures by keeping hunger at bay throughout the summer; a time when countless American kids suffer without the free meals provided through the public schools.

Our group began to leave the gymnasium to finish our tour of the facility when Mr. Personality ran back to Rena's side. "Be sure to check out my art!"

I made sure that we did. How could I not? His chocolate brown eyes reminded me so much of my own 10 year old's that I felt drawn to this little boy. We backtracked to the makeshift library where some lovely pencil drawings were lovingly displayed in black plastic frames.

My heart was, at this point, overwhelmed. What must that mean to a kid? Especially one who might have otherwise been without a place to feel so validated?  What must it mean to a child to not have to focus on the hunger in his belly but instead on the art in his mind? To be able to be a child instead of worrying about where his next meal would come from?

 He is one of the lucky children from the area who is able to be enrolled in a program like the Boys and Girls Club/YMCA. He is lucky enough to not feel the hunger that millions of American children feel every day. He is lucky to be surrounded by staff that obviously loves not only what they do but the very children they care for.

Inspired.

I was lucky enough to be asked to participate in this joint venture by ConAgra Foods and Feeding America. I was proud to help pack hundreds of bags of food that would feed hundreds of kids over a weekend away from programs like the YMCA. Food that would sustain them if their families weren't able to afford it. Food that would allow a boy like Mr. Personality to allow his mind and heart to focus on play and art and books.

Did you know that 21 million children participate in free lunch programs through their schools? Did you know that when school lets out, only about 2.3 million children participate in the summertime lunch programs? You do the math on how many hungry children that equals from June through August...

ConAgra Foods Foundation has pledged $5 million dollars to be donated over a course of 5 years to assist in reaching out to these children in need. And they have made it so easy for any of us to help the children across America from feeling that pain this summer. Simply by downloading a copy of their "Hunger Avengers Activity Booklet", which is an adorable booklet that explains what hunger means for our fortunate children, ConAgra Foods will donate a meal to Feeding America.

Kellie Pickler, me and fellow bloggers and teen volunteers working on weekend bags for hungry children at Second Harvest in Nashville, TN. Photo credit: Dean Dixon AP

Want to do more?

Consider donating directly to Feeding America here. $1 equals 8 meals*.

Volunteer at one of your local food banks! Call them and see what their greatest need is.

SPREAD THE WORD! Share the information about the Hunger Avengers Activity Booklet in every way you can think of! The more it's downloaded, the more meals will be donated. And more children like the ones I met will have a healthier, happier summer.


*According to Feeding America's Website.

Disclaimer: Though I am being compensated by ConAgra Foods to help spread the word about their Hunger-Free Summer campaign, all opinions remain my own.