Share Our Strength was started in the mid-80s with a focus on fighting against global hunger and poverty. That focus has shifted in recent years to, instead, tackle childhood hunger in the United States, which affects 16 million kids.

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No Kid Hungry Campaign
No Kid Hungry Campaign
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As part of the group's No Kid Hungry campaign, they try to ensure that all children get the healthy food they need.

"It's staggering to realize that in this country, one in five children is at risk of going hungry," said President Tom Nelson.

No Kid Hungry has two major initiatives at the center of their campaign.

"Our focus is connecting kids with the meals that are there, the federal programs, and making sure family members know how to use their approved dollars wisely for healthy and nutritious meals," Nelson said.

Nelson says even more staggering is that the food and programs are there to feed the 16 million children nationwide and 400,000 in New Jersey, who are at risk of going hungry.

The epidemic has grown to where 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger in this country.

No Kid Hungry has major strides with their nutrition education program or Cooking Matters, where they've reached more than 100,000 families nationwide and 25,000 this year alone. Many of these families have been helped in South Jersey, where the charity has a working relationship with the Community Food Bank of South Jersey.

Cooking Matters is a free six week class where participants learn how to select nutritious and low-cost ingredients and prepare them in ways to nourish their families.

While the issue of childhood hunger is daily and year-round, the impacts of Sandy has made a bad situation worse.

"Family members, who perhaps before the storm had a job, may have lost employment. The food banks are seeing even greater demands on their services."

As part of the holiday season, a Share Our Strength donor is matching all donations up to $500,000, meaning all gifts will have double the impact.

"A donation of ten dollars would mean that a child is potentially getting 100 meals through a school program. So, a few dollars can go a long way," Nelson explained.

You can learn more by visiting the No Kid Hungry campaign website and Facebook page.


Courtesy Share Our Strength

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