While there are many to choose from, here are five Organizations with a mission to help end hunger in our nation and around the world.
Blessings in a Backpack: Hunger Doesn’t Take Off the Weekend
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Stan Curtis, founder of Blessings In a Backpack. A charming man with a large personality and an incredible amount of energy; you know he’s the type of person that will get the job done. His organization, Blessings in a Backpack, is a unique program that is designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program, and may not have any or enough food on the weekends.
How it Works: “Every Friday, kids in schools that participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program get a backpacks filled with easy-to-prepare and ready-to-eat food. $80 feeds a child in the program for an entire school year. Following a donation, a school is chosen and a local grocer partners with the program to provide food for meals in the backpacks. Every Friday, students receive their backpacks with staples that require little to no preparation. On Monday, the kids return the backpacks, ready to learn. Then the cycle begins the next Friday.”
Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved
health and increased attendance have all been attributed to the success
of this program. To Learn More and/or Donate: Visit the Web Site
Charity Water: Holiday Gifts that Bring Clean Water to People in Need
“Most
of us have never really been thirsty. We’ve never had to leave our
houses and walk 5 miles to fetch water. We simply turn on the tap, and
water comes out. Clean.”
“Right now, almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. That’s one in eight of us. charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations to directly fund sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person clean water for 20 years. In four years, charity: water has raised more than $20 million and funded 3,196 water projects.”: To leaner more and/or to donate: Visit the Web site.
“There
are 3.3 million New Yorkers who experience difficulty affording food —
an astounding number and one that continues to increase as the donated
food supply drops to an all-time low and food costs skyrocket. To
address this issue, the Food Bank procures and distributes food to a
network of approximately 1,000 community-based member programs citywide,
helping to provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need.”
“Food Bank For New York City recognizes 27 years as the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As one of the country’s largest food banks, our mission is to end hunger in New York City by organizing food, information and support for community survival and dignity. As the city’s hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — food distribution, income support and nutrition education.”: To learn more Visit the web site.
“Feeding
America consists of a nation-wide network of more than 200 food banks
and food rescue organizations that serve virtually every county in the
United States as well as Puerto Rico. As the nation’s leading
hunger-relief charity, Feeding America’s mission is to feed America’s
hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our
country in the fight to end hunger.”
“Each year, the Feeding America network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors. The Feeding America network secures and distributes more than two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually” : To Learn More and/or Donate: Visit Their Website
“Project Angel Food’s mission is to nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. Volunteers and staff cook and deliver free and nutritious meals prepared with love throughout Los Angeles County, acting out of a sense of urgency because hunger and illness do not wait.”
“Meals are prepared by professional chefs and volunteer assistants, are nutritiously-appropriate, attractive and always made with the freshest ingredients. Registered dietitians provide clients with individual, nutritional counseling. There is no charge to clients for these services”: To Learn More and/or Donate: Visit Their Website
