1 in 5 Children face Hunger and Food Insecurities

 

 

 

Food insecurity is harmful to all people, but it is particularly devastating to children. Proper nutrition is critical to a child’s development. Not having enough of the right kinds of food can have serious implications for a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement and future economic prosperity. 

In the United States today, 15 million children face hunger. Consequently, one in five kids are facing greater obstacles to reaching their fullest potential. The future of America lies in our children. When hunger threatens the future of a child, it threatens the future of our nation as well. 

· 84 percent of client households with children report purchasing the cheapest food available, even if they knew it wasn’t the healthiest option, in an effort to provide enough food for their household.

Among Feeding America client households with children, nearly 9 in 10 households (89 percent) are food insecure.

As a leading charity organization, Feeding America is dedicated to helping solve the child hunger problem. Our network of community food banks serves 12 million children.

 

Many neighbors are suffering in these hard times.  In fact, we are expecting to help thousands of people this fall.  Thanksgiving and the cooler weather will bring thousands of hungry seniors, men, women and children to the doors of the member agencies that rely on us!

Thank you Mayor Dale Adams, City of Grand Rapids MN for your commitment to ENDING HUNGER in our community!

Jim Sommers named First Runner-Up Outstanding Senior Volunteer at the Minnesota State Fair

Itasca County has had quite a showing among the Minnesota State Fair Outstanding Senior Volunteer awards, and this year was no exception when Jim Sommers of rural Cohasset was named 2015 First Runner-Up at the State Fair on September 3, 2015.  Sommers joins a group of other Itasca County volunteers also recognized at the state level, including Outstanding Seniors Lloyd Adams from Wabana in 2013 and Joan Oja from Pengilly in 2011, and First Runner-Up Lorraine Linser from Grand Rapids in 2008. 

Jim Sommers, 2015 MN State Fair Outstanding Senior First Runner-Up

Out of a pool of nominees from each county in the state, two winners and two runners-up are honored at an awards ceremony and open house as they are recognized at the state level for their time and talent to benefit their community since the age of 65.  




            Judges look for diversity of accomplishments, length of service and commitment to serving others and their community.  Sommers volunteers primarily as a driver for older adults who are unable to transport themselves to/from medical appointments. When asked what is rewarding about his volunteer work, Jim replied, “I like to drive, and l enjoy meeting new people. Some of the rides are fairly long, and we get to know each other pretty well. The folks I drive are so grateful for this service, and it makes me feel good to be able to help them.”  Over the years, Jim has logged more than 5,000 volunteer hours, and likely tens-of-thousands of miles serving Arrowhead Transit, Rapid Transit, Senior Wheels and ElderCircle Adult Day Stay.  As quoted in a letter of recommendation, “Jim’s warm and compassionate personality immediately puts his passengers at ease.  He is a great conversationalist, can always find something in common with clients, and his sense of humor is a delight to be around.” 

Itasca County Outstanding Senior Lola Seekman, 2015 MN State Fair Outstanding Senior First Runner-Up Jim Sommers and MN State Fair Board Member Ron Oleheiser

USDA Awards $8 Million to Support Healthier Foods in Schools

USDA Awards $8 Million to Support Healthier Foods in Schools and Child Care Centers

Release No.
0245.15

Contact:
USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

 

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be awarding over $8 million in grants to help school nutrition professionals better prepare healthy meals for their students. Approximately $2.6 million dollars in grants will support implementation of new national professional standards for all school nutrition employees who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and $5.6 million will go to help states expand and enhance food service training programs and provide nutrition education in school, child care, and summer meal settings.

"For the past three years, kids have eaten healthier breakfasts, lunches and snacks at school thanks to the bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which made the first meaningful improvements to the nutrition of foods and beverages served in cafeterias and sold in vending machines in 30 years. Nearly all schools are successfully meeting the standards, and these grants part of our ongoing commitment to give states and schools the additional resources they need," said Vilsack. "Parents, teachers, principals, and school nutrition professionals want the best for their children. Together we can make sure we're giving our kids the healthy start in life they deserve."

The grants announced today add to the large number of resources that USDA provides to help schools serve healthier food options that meet updated nutrition standards, including technical assistance, educational materials, and additional reimbursements. More than 95 percent of schools report that they are successfully meeting those nutrition standards, which were based on recommendations from pediatricians and other child health experts at the Institute of Medicine.

In February, USDA announced national professional standards for school nutrition employees that went into effect on July 1, 2015. These standards, which vary according to position and job requirements, ensure that school nutrition professionals have the training and skills they need to plan, prepare, purchase, and promote healthy meals. In addition to several built-in flexibilities intended to facilitate the first year of implementation and address the challenges faced by smaller school districts, USDA is providing a total of $2.6 million to 19 state agencies to develop and enhance existing trainings within their state that will allow school nutrition professionals to meet these standards. The Professional Standards Training Grants promote training in nutrition; operations; administration; and communications and marketing.

In addition, 19 states received a 2015 Team Nutrition Training Grant of up to $350,000 – $5.6 million in total – to support trainings that focus on encouraging healthy eating. Those efforts could include:

• using Smarter Lunchrooms strategies that use principles from behavioral economics to encourage healthy choices,
• meeting meal pattern requirements for school meals,
• delivering interactive nutrition education activities, and
• providing schools and child care providers with technical assistance to create and maintain a healthier environment.

Grants activities must be sustainable and achieve measurable outcomes. For example, the Oregon Department of Education will use the grant funds to hold 10 Smarter Lunchroom workshops on strategies for arranging the lunchroom that promote healthy choices. As a result, at least 120 school food authorities and child nutrition program sponsors will receive training and follow-up assistance. A summary of previous years' grant activities by state can be found at the Team Nutrition Training Grants website.

The Team Nutrition Training Grants are awarded as part of USDA's Team Nutrition initiative, which provides resources, training, and nutrition education lessons for schools and child care providers. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Team Nutrition initiative. In that time, Team Nutrition has provided nearly $90 million in grant funds to state agencies that implement USDA Child Nutrition Programs.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers America's nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Together these programs make up the federal nutrition safety net.

 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). 

Hunger Action Month

SECOND HARVEST AND FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF HUNGER THROUGHOUT HUNGER ACTION MONTH

           

Grand Rapids, MN  (August 27, 2015) – Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, a member of  the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks, will observe Hunger Action Month^TM – a nationwide initiative designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger and join the movement to help end hunger. Hunger advocates from north central Minnesota and across the country are working together this September to shine a light on the issue of hunger in America – including one of five children in Itasca County.

“There are over 5,100 food insure people, including almost 2,000 children in Itasca County struggling with hunger, and Second Harvest is eager to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue our fight to solve this issue,” said Sue Estee , ED of Second Harvest. “Hunger is an issue that affects everyone – our child’s classmate, an office coworker or neighbor down the street. September is an opportunity for all hunger-relief advocates to take simple steps towards supporting those in need.”

Starting Tuesday, September 1, the trees at Old Central School in Grand Rapids will light up orange thanks to Minnesota Power, Lake Country Power, and the City of Grand Rapids. Second Harvest will commemorate Hunger Action Day®, which will be held Thursday, September 3.  Hunger Action Day is an opportunity for the country to learn more about how hunger affects their community. Second Harvest will hold its annual Donor Brunch and a Kids Pack Volunteer Day will take place on Monday, September 28^th. 

Every month, Second Harvest provides food for approximately 17,000 people in the seven county region served by the food bank. Over 2,200 commodity food boxes are distributed to low income seniors, over 2,000 school children receive Kids Packs of food to take home for the weekend and about 1,000 families are served at the Second Harvest Food Shelf.  In our area, 12% of the population is food insecure and one in five children are at risk of hunger. 

“Domestic hunger affects every community in our nation, preventing millions of families, seniors and children from thriving,” said Matt Knott, president of Feeding America. “This September we all are given a chance to come together and make a difference for those facing hunger."

Second Harvest is one of 200 member Feeding America food banks, which serves every county in the United States and provides over 3 billion meals each year to Americans in need.

To learn more about Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month please visit www.hungeractionmonth.org.

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About Second Harvest

Second Harvest North Central Food Bank serves 115 hunger relief agencies in Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties. In 2014, 4.8 million pounds of food and grocery products were distributed through those agencies. For more information regarding Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, visit www.secondharvestncfb.com or call 218.326.4420.

 

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.