For many children, their biggest concerns are finding their locker, doing well in class and making new friends. For 1 in 5 children however, their primary concern is where they will find their next meal. This is food insecurity.
Crisp air, shorter days, and even a few leaves starting to change color. These are all signs that summer is drawing to a close and that fall is almost here. It also means that it's back to school time for over 100,000 children in Kent County.
For many children, their biggest concerns are finding their locker, doing well in class and making new friends. For 1 in 5 children however, their primary concern is where they will find their next meal. This is food insecurity.
Food insecurity means many different things. It means that you don't know whether there will be dinner on the table when you get home from school. It means that even if there is something on the table, it may not provide the vitamins and minerals that you need to thrive and learn at school. It means that you may not be able to have fresh fruit or vegetables, because you live in a neighborhood that doesn't have grocery stores and isn't close to a bus line.
For many children, their biggest concerns are finding their locker, doing well in class and making new friends. For 1 in 5 children however, their primary concern is where they will find their next meal. This is food insecurity.
Food insecurity means many different things. It means that you don't know whether there will be dinner on the table when you get home from school. It means that even if there is something on the table, it may not provide the vitamins and minerals that you need to thrive and learn at school. It means that you may not be able to have fresh fruit or vegetables, because you live in a neighborhood that doesn't have grocery stores and isn't close to a bus line.
"Wow; this is really good! Can I have some more?"
-- Little Steps at SECOM Preschool student
having cantaloupe for the first time
-- Little Steps at SECOM Preschool student
having cantaloupe for the first time
Schools and nonprofits across Kent County fight food insecurity every day. K-12 schools and preschools like the Little Steps at SECOM Preschool make sure they provide healthy breakfasts and lunches, including fresh foods that help students grow, learn, and thrive. Key resource centers through Access of West Michigan are working to make their food pantries healthier and pairing healthy food with cooking classes so that families can make nutritious meals at home. Kid's Food Basket prepares sack suppers for children to take home so they have an evening meal. All of this work helps make for a healthier community community that has the energy to keep moving forward.
There are plenty of opportunities to promote food security and help children access nutritious food this school year. Visit Access Of West Michigan @ http://accessofwestmichigan.org to find a key resource center and donate the last harvest from your summer garden. Sign up to help package sack suppers with Kid's Food Basket by visiting http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org. Encourage family and friends to participate in a poverty simulation and take what they've learned to advocate for children and families struggling with food insecurity.
By getting involved and helping food insecure families, you're not just helping today. You're building hope for tomorrow for nearly 50% of the children in Kent County, and they and their families can't thank you enough.
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There are plenty of opportunities to promote food security and help children access nutritious food this school year. Visit Access Of West Michigan @ http://accessofwestmichigan.org to find a key resource center and donate the last harvest from your summer garden. Sign up to help package sack suppers with Kid's Food Basket by visiting http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org. Encourage family and friends to participate in a poverty simulation and take what they've learned to advocate for children and families struggling with food insecurity.
By getting involved and helping food insecure families, you're not just helping today. You're building hope for tomorrow for nearly 50% of the children in Kent County, and they and their families can't thank you enough.
Filed Under: All, Articles