The new members of the ConAgra Foods Child Hunger Corps, from left to right, are:

• Alex Handfinger, Arkansas Foodbank Network in Little Rock, Ark.
• Dorothy Mitchell, Oregon Food Bank in Portland, Ore.
• Terri Mangano, Mid-Ohio Foodbank in Grove City, Ohio
• Kimberly Shrader, Feeding America Southwest Virginia in Salem, Va.
• Danielle Hardre, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers, Fla.
• Reggie Young, Houston Food Bank in Houston, Texas

Photo Credit: The above photo is used with the permission of Feeding America.

Author: Kori Reed, ConAgra Foods Foundation Executive Director

About this time last year, I joined Feeding America in Los Angeles for a star-studded, benefit concert in celebration of Hunger Action Month. As amazing as it was to be at the concert, I was more excited to be there for the announcement of ConAgra Foods Foundation’s $10 million donation to Feeding America’s efforts to fight child hunger, including the creation of the ConAgra Foods Child Hunger Corps.

When Feeding America requested funding for this program, I was immediately intrigued with the idea of forming a dedicated hunger corps, a group of people working together to advance the fight against child hunger in communities across the country. After hearing from member food banks that dedicated staffing was a barrier to impacting child hunger, Feeding America studied programs like AmeriCorps and Teach for America to create the Child Hunger Corps.

It was an innovative concept that matched the ConAgra Foods Foundation’s goal of building a community of people who are passionate about finding sustainable solutions to the issue of child hunger.  Child hunger is a national problem, but one that requires local solutions that take into consideration a community’s unique characteristics and needs.

In committing themselves to a two-year program, Child Hunger Corps members will have time to assess the needs of the community, create meaningful programs and share their experiences with future members of the Child Hunger Corps. (Learn more.)

Taking something from concept to reality takes time. Feeding America first had to develop the framework and training curriculum, then recruit sponsoring food banks, recruit and select Child Huger Corps members, and more. A year after we announced our commitment to Feeding America, the Child Hunger Corps has come to life. (Editor’s Note: “Meet” the Child Hunger Corps & learn about where they’ll be working.)

With anticipation and excitement I met the first six members of the Child Hunger Corps during their training session with Feeding America. These are passionate people who have traveled and worked internationally; served in the AmeriCorps’ VISTA service; have degrees in sociology, anthropology, non-profit studies, political science; and much, much more.

Learning about these people and witnessing their passion for this cause, gives me great hope for the future. Feeding America’s thoughtful approach to building a solid foundation for the members of Child Hunger Corps means they will be that much more successful in their efforts over the next two years. They in turn will share their learnings with the next members of the Child Hunger Corps and so on.

I look forward to sharing the progress we will make with with the Child Hunger Corps – helping kids get the nourishment they need today so that they can flourish tomorrow and every day after.

(via womenandgirls beesvs)

Chef Jose Andres shares his recommendations for a week’s worth of nutritious, affordable meals with White House Chef Sam Kass as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign.

If you live in the Norfolk, Va., area, here’s one way to help fight hunger in your own community.

feedseva:

Amazing!!!  Freemason Abbey in downtown Norfolk is having a Foodbank night to promote Hunger Action Month on Monday September 20.  Your meal that night helps us to feed others in our community—25% of your food purchase (excludes beverage and gratuity) will be used to benefit the mission and programs of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia!

Hunger-Free Summer: What do you tell the kids?
Author: Stephanie Childs, ConAgra Foods Foundation

This summer, I had the good fortune to work with Katharine McPhee. She joined the ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America to bring attention to our Hunger-Free Summer initiative.  

Throughout the tour, she would regularly explain that she was volunteering at Hunger-Free Summer locations across the nation in order to lend her voice to the efforts to fight hunger and to bring some sunshine into the day for children who rely on summer food programs like those supported by our Hunger-Free Summer grant.

During one interview, a reporter asked her what she tells the kids about why she’s visiting. Katharine’s response? She doesn’t tell them much.

Katharine’s focus was on having fun with the kids and brightening their days. When it came to explaining the issue of child hunger, she was talking to the adults who need to know that there are resources for families in need and facing hunger.

Katharine is right. As we’re finding solutions to end child hunger in America, our work isn’t about telling kids in need that they are in need or to point out that their families struggle to pay the bills and put meals on the table. Our responsibility is to do what we can to provide children with the meals, resources and skills they need to become successful.

Summer is coming to a close, but our work to ensure that children have access to nutritious meals all year isn’t done. In fact, we’re already beginning to plan for next year’s Hunger-Free Summer to make it even more successful.

If you work with a food bank or a children’s summer food program in your community, mark your calendars now. In February 2011, Feeding America will begin its selection process for next year’s Hunger-Free Summer grant recipients. 

Working together, we can make sure more kids have a fun-filled Hunger-Free Summer.

Photo Credit: ConAgra Foods Foundation. In the above photo, Katharine McPhee plays with kids who rely on the services provided by the Arkansas Foodbank Network. Arkansas Foodbank Network was one of 23 Hunger-Free Summer grant recipients.

When planning a week’s worth of meals on a very limited income, some parents aren’t sure how to make ends meet and provide their families with nutritious meals. Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline, which is nationally sponsored by the ConAgra Foods Foundation, helps these families by teaching them nutrition, food safety and budgeting skills that will last a lifetime.

What we did this summer: Field trips to local farms
Author: Diane Howard, Director, ConAgra Hearts and Hands Project with LAMP

“We picked eggs today and you can have mine!”  Jason proudly announced to women in the kitchen of the homeless shelter when eggs were needed for the evening meal.

Jason is one of the youth ages 10-18 participating in the ConAgra Heart and Hands Project with Lowndes Association of Ministries to People, Inc. (LAMP) of Valdosta, Ga. During June and July these youth traveled to local farms and orchards throughout six counties in South Georgia, not merely to visit, but actually to pick fruit and vegetables as well as eggs.

The Project funded by ConAgra Foods Foundation is a three-phase, community-wide health and nutrition program for youth of Valdosta area which provides them with the tools and knowledge to develop and sustain healthy bodies and minds.

A typical summer field trip day began at 7:30 AM when the volunteers drove vans throughout the city picking up kids. By 9 AM everyone met at LAMP’s homeless shelter to travel caravan-style to a farm where the grower/producer explained operations and the kids pick fruit or vegetables. Once they ate fresh blueberries, blackberries, peaches, strawberries, corn, peas, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans and peppers, they learned that local, fresh produce tastes better than produce shipped hundreds of miles. Following lunch, they washed, peeled, shelled or cut up their morning’s gathering to carry home to share with families and friends. Some of their harvest was “put up” or canned/frozen for later use.

Besides taking summer field trips, the kids planted their own organic urban garden at the homeless shelter and participated in three health and nutrition fairs along with about 2,000 kids. Thanks to ConAgra Foods Foundation’s Community Impact Grant, these kids enjoyed an educational, nutritious and fun-filled summer.  

Photo Credit: The above photo is used with the permission of LAMP. In the picture, Jason holds a hen during a field trip to a local Georgia farm.

According to a Feeding America study funded by the ConAgra Foods Foundation, 21 percent of children in Maine are struggling with hunger, which is the highest rate of child hunger in New England.