Dear Lucas,
Dance fads like the macarena, chicken dance and electric slide come and go, but one that we hope is here to stay is the "food dance."
Curtis Curry, Associate Director of Program Operations for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, describes the "food dance" as the "natural swing in your step that comes from a full plate of good food." It's one way he knows his programs are making a difference in the lives of hungry kids -- they're so excited to eat that they dance. It's a stark contrast to the behavior seen in hungry children, who have little energy or focus and have difficulty getting along with others.
Around the country, summer marks a critical time for the millions of children who rely on free or reduced-price school lunches every day. As Erica, a first grade teacher told us, "For most of our students, the meals that they receive at school...are the only food they receive all week." When school is out, these children are less likely to have access to adequate nutritious food. And when they return to the classroom in the fall, they often have not received proper nutrition, making them less likely to retain any of the skills they had learned previously.
Through our No Kid Hungry Campaign, we are strengthening and extending the reach of summer meal programs in key states. That's why we have hit the road to spread the word about summer meals and the great work that our partners like Curtis and dozens more are doing to connect hungry kids with nutritious meals this summer. Arkansas was our first stop on this tour, where only 14.2% of kids who eat a free or reduced-priced school meal participate in summer meal programs.
We hope to keep you updated on the great work and amazing local leaders we meet who are making sure hungry kids receive nutritious meals this summer. Check out stories from the road and more at our No Kid Hungry in Summer website.
Sincerely,
Billy Shore
Executive Director
P.S. Thanks to generous friends like you, we are 50% to our match goal! If you haven't already, please consider making a gift. Every dollar you give connects a kid to 10 meals and it will be matched, up to $25,000, to double the impact of your support.