Dear Lucas,
I'm writing today to give you an update from the road. All summer, our team has been visiting sites across the country that help kids get connected to summer meals. I wanted to share some quick updates from Katherine Van Steenburgh, a No Kid Hungry® campaign staffer who just returned from visiting summer meals sites in our partner state, Colorado:
The main drumbeat left in my head from the time our team spent in Colorado is that kids are getting lunches and breakfasts that they wouldn't otherwise have because of the summer sites and local leaders we have there.
We interviewed one mother, Marissa, who is currently taking care of 15 people in her home. She has seven kids, but her husband's brother lost his job, so his family moved in with them. Both families depend on Marissa's husband's construction income and after the rent and bills are paid, they don't have any money left over for food. They rely completely on SNAP (food stamps), summer meals, school meals and emergency food boxes. Marissa is very thankful for these programs and the leaders who run them.
At another place, we met a teenaged girl who reminded me of the wisdom of children. When I asked her if she thought there was enough food in our country to feed everyone, she replied, "I think there IS enough, but we aren't organized, so not everyone gets the food they need, but there is enough and something needs to be done to change that."
And you are the force behind that change. Share Our Strength is taking on childhood hunger state-by-state and city-by-city with our No Kid Hungry Campaign. Together with partners like you and real local leaders in communities around the country, every day we are connecting hungry kids to the nutritious meals they need to succeed.
This can't happen without you. If you can't join us on the road this summer, you can make a big difference by getting your generous gift of $50, $75, or $100 matched by August 31.
Katherine told me one of the best parts of the Colorado visit was getting to talk to all the kids she met. When she asked them what they want to be when they grow up, she met a future veterinarian, a monkey trainer, a doctor, a teacher, a football player, a fireman and a comedian. I'm hopeful that with the great work we're doing, these kids can keep their focus where it belongs: on their dreams, not on their next meal.
Thank you for all that you do to bring an end to childhood hunger across America.
Sincerely,
Billy Shore
Executive Director