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This is a line from Katharine McPhee’s song “Lifetime,” and it keeps going through my head after meeting Shanta Barton-Stubbs, who founded and runs New Image Youth Center in Orlando, Fla. New Image is a summer feeding location supported by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which received a Hunger-Free Summer grant to support summer food locations in Orlando. But, if you’re like me, when you think of Orlando, you immediately think of Walt Disney World, the happiest place on earth. But near downtown Orlando on Parramore Street, life is very different; the children in this neighborhood are much more likely to face poverty, violence and drug abuse. Shanta is turning a moment into a lifetime of hope. Since opening New Image, Shanta has succeeded in giving her kids hope and a brighter future. In fact, since she opened New Image, not one of her kids has been incarcerated or become pregnant. I am blessed to have met Shanta as well as her mom, Annette, who helps out at the center on a regular basis. Once again, I am humbled to have learned from these community heroes, who are championing on behalf of kids who face tough situations that rob them of their innocence when they’re so young. Thank you, Shanta and Annette (not to forget brother Liam, a.k.a. Gritz), for showing us, in a truly exemplary way, that each moment can turn into a lifetime of help and hope, of integrity and honor, and of caring and sharing. |
One of the New Image Youth Center volunteers filmed Katharine McPhee as she sang the song she wrote with the kids who rely on New Image’s services. All of the kids helped Katharine write the song, which became a tribute to Shanta Barton-Stubbs, who founded and runs New Image.
Katharine McPhee starts writing a song with the kids at New Image Youth Center. She’s here today to help fight child hunger and to launch the Hunger-Free Summer, a joint program between us and Feeding America.
Katharine McPhee talks with Shanta Barton-Stubbs, who runs New Image Youth Center in Orlando. The center serves lunch to about 40 kids each day that they might not otherwise get. The center also gives the kids a safe place play and just be kids.
Katharine talks about her work to launch the Hunger-Free Summer initiative with ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America.
To help raise awareness about children facing hunger in the summer months, Katharine McPhee has joined ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America to launch Hunger-Free Summer.This initiative is providing support to food banks in 23 cities, including Orlando, Houston, Little Rock and Irvine.
If you want to know more about Hunger-Free Summer, look for interviews with Katharine today on local news stations in Greensboro, Harrisburg, Denver, Seattle, Atlanta, Baltimore, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Wichita and more! Or visit our website at www.conagrafoodsfoundation.org/summer.
We’re working with Katharine McPhee and Feeding America this summer to help make sure kids have enough to eat all year long, especially during the summer when kids aren’t able to rely on the free and reduced-price meals at school.
