The Children’s Hunger Project sends home backpacks with students, giving them nourishing food for the weekend
Kids go hungry all around the United States and it’s a tragedy. Often, it’s an invisible tragedy, because many people don’t even know it exists. We at Slug-A-Bug want to do our part to raise awareness and reduce child hunger in Brevard County. That’s why we support a fine organization in our community: the Children’s Hunger Project.
It’s nearly unthinkable that in a land of such abundance, any child would fail to get sufficient nourishment. But it’s true. Here in Brevard, some 14 percent of families live below the poverty line. As many as 55 percent must choose between buying food or paying utilities. Nearly that many also are stuck having to choose between food and either rent or the mortgage.
Accordingly, more than 50 percent of the students in our schools are receiving free or reduced-price meals. In some elementary schools, that number skyrockets to 80 percent or more.
But here’s the problem: These children are off on weekends. Many go home Friday and find too little to eat in the home until Monday. Kids need a steady diet to develop healthy immune systems and minds. When a child doesn’t get enough to eat, it can also result in learning and behavioral problems.
The Children’s Hunger Project is helping bridge that gap. On Fridays, project volunteers stock a backpack for each of these children to bring home for the weekend. Each contains enough healthy food to get a child through the weekend without going hungry. The nonperishable items are lightweight and require no cooking.
The Slug-A-Bug team helps support this excellent charity and we’re inviting you to do the same. You can donate to the Children’s Hunger Project here. It takes only $150 to feed a child for an entire year. Another way to help is to be part of the team of volunteers that stocks backpacks to give the children. It’s a satisfying way to help lift up your community, and the need is great.
Won’t you join us in supporting this effort?