Hunger Can Steal a Child’s Future

Posted on August 22, 2011 by admin

Starvation affects more than children’s immediate physical development – it impacts their future.

Research has shown that hungry children develop behavioral problems and social disorders, particularly between the ages of 6 and 16.  Yet it’s during these critical years that children develop the bulk of their social skills, emotional maturity and fundamental education.

However, while hungry children are being held to the same standard as those who benefit from regular meals, they’re not given the nutrition they need meet these even basic expectations.  Studies show that almost 20 percent of Washington children under the age of 18 live in poverty. (Food Research and Action Center).

Instead of focusing on their schoolwork, they act out. Good grades and manners take a backseat to the fact that they don’t where their next meal is coming from. And what many people perceive as behavioral problems may simply be lack of food.

Recent studies also show that hungry children are:

* More aggressive
* Hyperactive
* Less likely to get along with classmates
* At greater risk of illnesses that require hospitalization

They suffer from impaired cognitive functioning and diminished learning capacities, which means lower test scores and a limited chance of finishing their education much less going on to earn a degree.

Skip lunch one day.  The next day, skip lunch and dinner.  Then imagine going without a decent meal at all, for several days. How well should you be expected to function?

These are not bad children – they’re hungry children in our own backyard.  And we all have the power to feed them.  Feed Washington is a true non-profit relief organization that’s dedicated to feeding hungry children in Washington.  No matter how large or small your contribution, you can help us end childhood hunger in our State and give hungry Washington children a chance at a real future.

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Teaming Up to Feed Hungry Children in Washington

Posted on August 10, 2011 by admin

Hungry ChildrenFeed Washington Donors and Friends,

Thanks to your generous support, we’ve just been able to donate more than $2,000 to the Southwest Boys & Girls Club, an organization committed to feeding the hungry children in its afterschool dinner program.

Every weekday, the Club provides a warm, well-balanced dinner to between 80 and 100 hungry children, ages 5 to 18 years.  Over 80% of the Club’s attending children are on a free or reduced lunch plan when they’re in school.  However, during the summer months when school is out, it becomes even harder to make sure these children have more than one solid meal to count on each day.

And as the Club serves one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Seattle area, the need is even greater.  That’s why the Club stretches its resources to also offer a nutritious breakfast of whole grain cereal and a fresh fruit during these leaner, more uncertain months.

Here’s the good news.  For every $1 donated, the Club can generate a meal and a half, which means they’ll be able to turn the $2,000 donation into approximately 3,000 meals for children in need who would likely otherwise go without.

Hungry Children in WashingtonJust think about it.  That’s 3,000 meals.  To those of you whose charitable donations made it possible – thank you.

To those of you just joining the fight, it’s not too late to help end hunger for Washington children in need.  There are too many hungry children in our State, and we’re asking those adults who aren’t hungry to commit to a small recurring credit card donation in an amount they won’t even notice on their monthly bill.  Whether it’s $1, $5 or $50 – the individual amount doesn’t matter. It’s the collective impact of your charitable donations that’s important.

Please join us.  Every penny goes towards feed hungry children. Donate today.

Thanks again for your continued support!

Eirik

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Join the Fight to End Hunger in Washington

Posted on August 4, 2011 by admin

September marks Hunger Action Month and national nonprofit Feeding America is calling upon individuals and communities to get involved in the fight against hunger.

During the month of September, more than 200 food banks across the nation are asking people to lend a hand. A few of our local food banks involved are Food Lifeline and Second Harvest Inland Northwest.

Local events are being planned throughout the month to help raise awareness about hunger in America and Feed Washington will be promoting local events so check back often to see how you can get involved.

How Can You Help?

- Write a letter to elected officials about hunger and the legislation that is important to you.
- Organize a food drive at your office to donate to a local food bank
- Send donations to food bank programs equipped to feed children and senior citizens

As September gets closer Feed Washington will share ideas so that you can participate in the 30 Ways in 30 Days that you can help end hunger in Washington!

Anxious to get started?

- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

- Help your kids have a lemonade stand and donate funds to Feed Washington

- Ask your favorite restaurant to donate one day’s sales to Feed Washington

- Sign up to be a monthly donor at Feed Washington!

Feed Washington believes it is the responsibility of all non-hungry adults in Washington to eradicate childhood hunger in our State. We ask those adults who aren’t hungry to commit to a small recurring credit card donation in an amount they won’t notice on their monthly credit card bill. Maybe for you it’s $1, $5 or $50. The individual amount doesn’t matter; it’s the collective impact that is important.

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The Importance of Good Nutrition

Posted on July 14, 2011 by admin

In the first three years of a child’s life, good nutrition is essential in establishing and maintaining a foundation that has implications on a child’s future physical and mental health as well as academic achievement.

Insufficient nutrition puts children at risk for illness and weakens their immune system. The immature immune systems of young children ages 0 – 5, make them especially vulnerable to nutritional deprivation and as a result, the ability to learn, grow, and fight infections is adversely affected.

Without proper nutrition children are at risk for poor health and hospitalization. The lack of adequate nutrition affects the cognitive and behavioral development of children. These hungry children often suffer from irritability, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

The impact this has on a child’s health is astounding. Research shows that food insecurity is associated with the following:

- grade repetition
- absenteeism
- tardiness
- anxiety
- aggression
- poor mathematics scores
- psychosocial dysfunction
- difficulty with social interaction among 6 to 12 year old children
- suicide and depressive disorders among 15 to 16 year old children

Feed Washington is a relief organization in Washington that strives to end hunger in our state. Your charitable donations benefit hungry children in Washington. For more information and to get involved please consider a small monthly donation. The individual amount doesn’t matter; it’s the collective impact that is important.

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Summer Hunger

Posted on July 9, 2011 by admin

The economy has created some serious problems in many areas; none of those problems are as potentially devastating to the long-term health of our communities than childhood hunger.

More than 400,000 children in Washington go hungry every day. Nearly 1 in 4 children in Washington live in families that struggle to put food on the table on a regular basis. Many low-income parents skip meals so that their children can eat. At one Spokane food bank, 60% of parents said they skipped meals to give their children food.

Summer is a time of particular concern as children do not have access to school meal programs. On an average school day last year, about 320,000 children in Washington received free or reduced-price school lunch. Currently in Washington State only 11% of children who receive free and reduced cost meals during the school year are accessing free summer meal programs. Please consider making a small recurring monthly donate to help insure these children get the meals they need.

Feed Washington is a non-profit food distributor in the State of Washington. We believe that it is the responsibility of all non-hungry adults in Washington to eradicate childhood hunger in our State. We ask those adults who aren’t hungry to commit to a small recurring credit card donation in an amount they won’t notice on their monthly credit card bill. Maybe for you it’s $1, $5 or $50. The individual amount doesn’t matter; it’s the collective impact that is important.

Please join us.

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Feed Washington

Posted on May 5, 2011 by admin

Feed Washington Donors and Friends,

Thank you for visiting our new site and for your support of the cause. My plan is to use the blog to announce Feed Washington success stories and also to raise awareness of the reality and severity of the hunger problem in our state.

To that end, I am thrilled to announce two recent Feed Washington success stories. Our recent donation of 40 cases of baby formula to the Providence Regina House Food Bank provided over 9,000, 6 ounce servings of baby formula to 450 families in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Seattle area.

Here is a picture of my daughter, Sofia, doing her best Vanna White with the formula.

The formula was delivered to the Regina House on their Baby Cupboard Day (the 1st Saturday of every month) and was met with great appreciation as the baby formula cupboard was more or less empty.

Our second distribution was to the Ballard and North Seattle Boys and Girls Clubs who received $3,000 from Feed Washington for their feeding program. Mark Hendricks, the Executive Director of both clubs, expects that he can create 9,000 meals with our $3,000.

While the quantity of meals provided the clubs is nothing short of incredible, it is the involvement of the kids that makes this special. In Mark’s words: “I spent the afternoon mowing the North Seattle ball field and spoke with two of our volunteer master gardeners.  They are working with our youth on planting all kinds of vegetables in the corner of the field and are excited about also doing a cooking class with a lot of the items that the kids are growing.”

Please take a moment and pause to consider the impact your donation is making on the lives of the children we just benefited. 9,000 servings of formula is a huge number, and we are just getting started!

Thanks again for your continued support!

Eirik

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