Latest news with #FeedtheChildren
USA Today
01-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
Feed the Children Launches Summer Hunger Campaign and Expands Summer Feed & Read Program
Nonprofit works with partners to provide food and learning activities for children in four cities As classes conclude and summer arrives, it should be a season of carefree days for children, filled with time spent with friends, pursuing their passions, and sparking their imaginations. However, for the 30 million children who depend on school meals, the end of the school year also signifies the end of this vital resource. For the 1 in 5 children in the U.S. who already experience food insecurity, this situation means they will have even less access to food during the summer months. Feed the Children recognizes that hunger exists all around us, even when we don't see it. This is why the nonprofit is kicking off its summer hunger campaign to raise critical funds to help children during one of the hungriest times of the year. The organization is working to address summer hunger as its Summer Feed & Read program expands to a fourth city this summer in Denver, Colo., and returns to Oklahoma City, Okla., Memphis, Tenn., and Atlanta, Ga. The Summer Feed & Read program provides nutritious meals to children during the summer months. These meals follow the USDA MyPlate guidelines and include a protein as the main course, along with servings of fruit, vegetables, grains, and milk. Additionally, the program addresses summer learning loss by providing books and promoting enrollment in summer learning opportunities and reading programs. For many families, 2025 has brought ongoing challenges that will make this summer more difficult. Even as food prices continue to rise, several states opted not to participate in the USDA SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program, including three of the four states where Feed the Children is implementing this summer's program – Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee. 'We hope that by focusing our impact in locations where the Summer EBT program is suspended, we can help close the meal gap for children experiencing the loss of school meals across the country,' said Colleen Ridenhour, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer at Feed the Children. 'We are dedicated to supporting children who need us the most and helping them stay engaged in learning this summer as part of our continued commitment to growth and our goal of improving support to the communities we serve.' Many parents who rely on school meals to help stretch their food budget find summertime difficult to afford. Their children are home more of the time, and it's a challenge to buy all the meals a healthy child needs. For parents like Renata, a mom of two children, Feed the Children can help bridge the gap during the summer months. 'There's a lot more budgeting in the summer,' Renata explained. 'Right now, with the economy, everything costs so much money. We plan our meals out a week in advance, and that's what we eat.' Feed the Children helps by providing vital support to families who experience increased food insecurity during the summer months. The nonprofit is collaborating with partners to distribute nearly 30,000 pre-packaged lunch kits this summer. Additionally, Feed the Children offers household essentials, such as cleaning supplies and personal care items, which are not covered by SNAP benefits. This assistance helps parents and caregivers allocate more of their budget towards putting food on the table this summer. In addition to food and essential household and personal care items, Feed the Children also provides books and encourages enrollment in local summer reading programs that keep kids' minds active. Research has shown that young students lose some of their achievement gains – up to one month of the school year's lessons – over the summer. This is especially true for their literacy when children don't read regularly during the summer. Students who struggle with literacy early often find it difficult to catch up and may continue to fall behind their peers, which can have lasting impacts on their academic success. In Denver, Feed the Children teamed up with The a2 Milk Company TM to launch the Summer Feed & Read program, which will provide over 5,000 pre-packaged meals to students. The program will be hosted at Hope Communities , Denver Inner City Parish , and Alicia Sanchez Elementary . As part of the Summer Feed & Read program in Oklahoma and Memphis, Feed the Children is teaming up with FedEx to provide 14,000 pre-packaged meal kits. Oklahoma community partners participating in the program, Luther Community Service Center and the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, will receive nearly 7,000 pre-packaged meals and books to support children this summer. The program will also provide 7,000 pre-packaged meals, books, and essentials to the Emmanuel Center and the Vance Avenue Youth Development Center in Memphis. The nonprofit is partnering with Americold to provide lunch meal kits to more than 6,000 students for the Summer Feed & Read program in Atlanta, working with the Latin American Association and Fulton County Schools . The school district is also a partner for Feed the Children's Food & Essential Hub program that supports students with food, essential household items, personal care products, books, and school supplies throughout the school year. 'We are grateful for all our partners and their commitment to ensuring children in their community have the food they need this summer,' said Tamara Sandberg, Vice President of U.S. Program Development at Feed the Children. 'Kids can't be hungry for knowledge if they are hungry for food – we hope that by providing access to books we can reduce the summer slide in reading while also supporting children with healthy meals while school is out.' View Feed the Children's Summer Feed & Read program video from previous Summer activities. The organization encourages everyone to join its mission to end childhood hunger. Supporters can help fight summer hunger by donating at . This support will allow kids to enjoy the summer and will help make a difference in the lives of children and their families across the country. About Feed the Children Feed the Children is a leading nonprofit committed to ending childhood hunger. The organization believes that no child should go to bed hungry, and so it provides children and families in the U.S. and around the world with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive. Through its programs and partnerships, the organization feeds children today while helping their families and communities build resilient futures. In addition to food, Feed the Children distributes household and personal care items across the United States to help parents and caregivers maintain stable, food-secure households. Internationally, it expands access to nutritious meals, safe water, improved hygiene, and training in sustainable living. As responsible stewards of its resources, Feed the Children is driven to pursue innovative, holistic, and child-focused solutions to the complex challenges of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty. For children everywhere, the organization believes that having enough to eat is a fundamental right. Learn how you can help create a world without childhood hunger at . For more information: Kelly Frey – 405-945-4064 SOURCE: Feed the Children View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
400 hungry WMass families fed with donation effort by Price Rite, partners
WEST SPRINGFIELD — There are nights when Kathy Rocco and her husband don't make dinner — they scrounge for it. 'You can always find crackers, or we have a garden, so I can go out and make a salad,' she told The Republican. The couple was among 400 families that each received a 25-pound box of food, a 15-pound box of personal care items and backpacks filled with school supplies Tuesday on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. Price Rite Marketplace partnered with Feed the Children, the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield and the Parish Cupboard to address what organizers said is a widespread, urgent need for help. 'We're here to give them immediate relief. They're stretching their budgets to the brink,' said Joe Allegro, senior director of corporate partnerships for Feed the Children. Allegro said more than 10% of families in West Springfield live at or below the poverty level. He said each family received $200 worth of products, including food that can be used to make 20 meals for a family of four. The total giveaway was worth $175,000 and could benefit up to 1,600 people, Allegro said. Price Rite is based in New Jersey and operates more than 50 grocery stores in the Northeast. The company said it opened its first store in West Springfield 30 years ago and staged the distribution to mark that anniversary. 'We are in a lot of underserved areas, from a food desert perspective. I have a real passion for being in neighborhoods where people really need us,' said company President Kevin McDonnell. More than 40 Price Rite employees volunteered their time to load tons of food into local residents' cars, SUVs and trucks that drove under a temporary shelter in pouring rain. Angel Acevedo, a grocery stocker, lifted heavy cases of water and other items into dozens of cars. He witnessed grateful looks on the faces of people he also sees in his store, customers who leave his grocery aisles with less than they want because they don't have the cash. 'Some people purchase half of what they need and leave the store. They have to decide what's more important, and get that,' he said. The Greater Boston Food Bank reports that food insecurity in Western Massachusetts is higher than it is anywhere else in the commonwealth. The Food Bank said 41% of households here experience food insecurity, compared to 39% and 29% in Central and Eastern Massachusetts, respectively. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts reports 48% of households in Hampden County are facing this problem. Rocco listened to music on her phone as she waited for her share of groceries. She never thought she would end up in a food line when she retired from nursing a year ago, she said. 'I didn't know things would be this hard at this point in my life. But you can't go back. I just have to do the best I can with what I have. You're either poor or your rich. There's no middle anymore,' she said. Yolanda Gomez was second in line, taking no chances with missing out on the donated food. She must feed a family of four but said she can't always do it on the disability checks she gets from Social Security. 'I go to a lot of pantries. Today is very helpful. I need food. Sometimes we don't have any,' she said. Allegro said Feed the Children tries to focus on long-term solutions to poverty and hunger, but relies on emergency giveaways to help people suffering today. 'Everything has been ramped up so high, and their benefits aren't keeping up with inflation. It's going in the wrong direction. We don't know when things will turn, so we're here for the long run,' he said. Price Rite tries to offer discounts with a no-frills approach to business and stores that have minimal staffing, but the chain's president says containing costs is a constant struggle. 'We look at all of the different inputs that come into our business and react on a daily basis,' said McDonnell. 'It's a fluid business. Every day, every week, every hour you see what your sales are and what your costs are. It's very active. It's never ending.' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
StarKist® Partners with Feed the Children and Cornerstones for Fourth Annual Summer Food and Resource Rally in Northern Virginia
Hundreds of Families Receive Food and Household Essentials at Resource Rally RESTON, Va., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunger remains a significant issue in communities throughout Northern Virginia, where thousands of families face food insecurity. In response, StarKist, Feed the Children, and Cornerstones partnered with Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, VA, to host their Fourth Annual Summer Food and Resource Rally today, providing hunger relief to 400 underserved families in the region. "StarKist is proudly headquartered in Reston, and partnering with Cornerstones and Feed the Children for our Fourth Annual Resource Rally allows us to make a direct and meaningful difference for those facing real challenges in our community," said Edward Min, StarKist President and CEO. "In uncertain times, access to affordable, high-quality protein is essential, and we're proud that StarKist products can help meet that need." During the event, regional business leaders, elected officials, StarKist employee volunteers, and community advocates joined forces to help address food insecurity along the Dulles Corridor. Volunteers distributed 400 family kits containing StarKist products, 25-pound boxes of shelf-stable food, 15-pound boxes of hygiene essentials, and additional resources. Each kit was designed to support a family of four, providing more than 8,300 meals to 400 households this summer. "Food insecurity in Fairfax County has reached new highs," reflects Kerrie Wilson, CEO of Cornerstones. "Many local families who have never needed assistance before are now turning to neighborhood food pantries for help. At our Cornerstones' Assistance Services and Food Pantry and our FREE from Hunger Center, as well as at many of the region's neighborhood pantries and feeding programs, we are seeing a surge in families reaching out for support. We are deeply grateful to team up with StarKist and Feed the Children, whose generosity and commitment have made a real difference for our neighbors in need this summer." For Feed the Children, the Summer Food and Resource Rally provides an opportunity to help meet the community's immediate needs while making a meaningful difference for families. Feed the Children believes it takes everyone – the nonprofit sector, corporations, community organizations, government officials, and food suppliers – to come together to end childhood hunger. "We've seen the significant impact Resource Rallies have in supporting communities experiencing food insecurity, and we're grateful to be working with StarKist and Cornerstones to make a difference in the lives of children and families," said Emily Callahan, President and CEO of Feed the Children. "Working together we're able to provide food and quality of life essentials that children and families need to survive, grow, and thrive. Through the power of partnership, we can make a greater impact as we seek to create a world where no child goes to bed hungry." In addition to the event in Reston, StarKist will partner with Feed the Children to host a Summer Resource Rally in Bentonville, Arkansas later this month, and will also collaborate with the Magic Johnson Foundation on its Holiday Hope event in Los Angeles in November. Over the past 16 years, StarKist has donated more than 1.2 million pounds of protein-rich tuna and chicken products, representing nearly $4.9 million in product donations and an additional $985,000 in monetary support to help food-insecure children and families across the U.S. Through its ongoing partnership with Feed the Children, StarKist has supported more than 20 Resource Rally events nationwide, including disaster and emergency response efforts. These efforts continue StarKist's long history of addressing hunger and food shortages, a commitment that dates back to 1917 when the company helped meet the nation's protein needs during World War I. About StarKist Co. is a socially responsible company that empowers people to live a healthy lifestyle by providing convenient nutritious proteins. An industry innovator, StarKist was the first brand to introduce convenient single-serve pouch products, which include StarKist Tuna Creations®, Salmon Creations®, and Chicken Creations® in over 40 varieties. As America's favorite tuna, StarKist represents a tradition of quality, consumer trust and a commitment to sustainability. StarKist's charismatic brand icon, Charlie The Tuna®, swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961 and is still a fan favorite today. StarKist Co. is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Dongwon Industries Co., Ltd. About Feed the ChildrenFeed the Children is a leading nonprofit committed to ending childhood hunger. The organization believes that no child should go to bed hungry, and so it provides children and families in the U.S. and around the world with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive. Through its programs and partnerships, the organization feeds children today while helping families and communities build resilient futures. In addition to food, Feed the Children distributes household and personal care items across the United States to help parents and caregivers maintain stable, food-secure households. Internationally, it expands access to nutritious meals, safe water, improved hygiene, and training in sustainable living. As responsible stewards of its resources, Feed the Children is driven to pursue innovative, holistic, and child-focused solutions to the complex challenges of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty. For children everywhere, the organization believes that having enough to eat is a fundamental right. Learn how you can help create a world without childhood hunger at About CornerstonesTogether with our community, Cornerstones promotes stability, empowerment, and hope through support, advocacy, and community-building for individuals and families in need. Since 1970, Cornerstones has been a leading anchor organization in Northern Virginia, serving more than 25,900 households - including individuals and families with children -just in the past fiscal year. Our dedicated team connects people facing hardship with life-changing resources, tackling the root causes of homelessness and poverty to help build strong, stable families and a resilient community. Cornerstones is also a trusted advisor at the local, state, and national levels, championing policies and partnerships that expand affordable housing, invest in food security and the well-being of children and families, and drive systemic change to ensure everyone thrives in our community. To learn more about our programs or how you can get involved, visit Media Contacts:StarKist: Michelle Ford Faist / 571-441-8096 / Feed the Children: Kelly Frey / 405-945-4064 / Cornerstones: Margaret Anne Lara / 571-323-9575 / View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE StarKist Co. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delivering Hope: FedEx Steps Up for Families Affected by Wildfires
NORTHAMPTON, MA / / May 12, 2025 / April 17th marked the 52nd anniversary of FedEx, but it also signified 100 days since the California wildfires. To commemorate both occasions, FedEx volunteers from across the Los Angeles area collaborated with Feed the Children, World Central Kitchen, and the local nonprofit Watchitgrow Inc. to directly assist 400 families affected by the fires. The event was held in Altadena, a community where many impacted residents lived in generational family homes, a significant number of which were uninsured. Throughout the day, the FedEx team dedicated their time to uplifting others by engaging with families and loading essential supplies into their vehicles. Each family received a shelf-stable meal kit/box designed to feed a family of four for five days, along with household necessities, Avon beauty products, and books. Additionally, a special product donation from Mattel, a Feed the Children supporter and FedEx customer, provided backpacks filled with children's items, including Barbies and Hot Wheels. Before departing the distribution site, families were offered a hot meal courtesy of World Central Kitchen, as well as a $100 meal voucher for a local restaurant. The community deeply appreciated the ongoing support. One recipient shared, "We were running out of food since we were victims of the Eaton Fire; [these] boxes of food and essentials [have] been a blessing." Another individual expressed their gratitude to FedEx and the nonprofits, stating, "Our house burned and we had no insurance. With the help we received, we can save to rebuild." Click here to see a heartwarming video. Furthermore, the FedEx LA team worked with Operation Warm to deliver over 600 brand new shoes to students at Jackson Elementary in Altadena also impacted by the wildfires. Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx on Contact Info:Spokesperson: FedExWebsite: Email: info@ SOURCE: FedEx View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delivering Hope: FedEx Steps Up for Families Affected by Wildfires
NORTHAMPTON, MA / / May 12, 2025 / April 17th marked the 52nd anniversary of FedEx, but it also signified 100 days since the California wildfires. To commemorate both occasions, FedEx volunteers from across the Los Angeles area collaborated with Feed the Children, World Central Kitchen, and the local nonprofit Watchitgrow Inc. to directly assist 400 families affected by the fires. The event was held in Altadena, a community where many impacted residents lived in generational family homes, a significant number of which were uninsured. Throughout the day, the FedEx team dedicated their time to uplifting others by engaging with families and loading essential supplies into their vehicles. Each family received a shelf-stable meal kit/box designed to feed a family of four for five days, along with household necessities, Avon beauty products, and books. Additionally, a special product donation from Mattel, a Feed the Children supporter and FedEx customer, provided backpacks filled with children's items, including Barbies and Hot Wheels. Before departing the distribution site, families were offered a hot meal courtesy of World Central Kitchen, as well as a $100 meal voucher for a local restaurant. The community deeply appreciated the ongoing support. One recipient shared, "We were running out of food since we were victims of the Eaton Fire; [these] boxes of food and essentials [have] been a blessing." Another individual expressed their gratitude to FedEx and the nonprofits, stating, "Our house burned and we had no insurance. With the help we received, we can save to rebuild." Click here to see a heartwarming video. Furthermore, the FedEx LA team worked with Operation Warm to deliver over 600 brand new shoes to students at Jackson Elementary in Altadena also impacted by the wildfires. Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx on Contact Info:Spokesperson: FedExWebsite: Email: info@ SOURCE: FedEx View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
