Child Hunger Ends Here

Nearly 17 million children face hunger in the U.S. ConAgra Foods is working with Feeding America to change that. Look for codes on these participating ConAgra Foods brands, and enter them at childhungerendshere.com

Dedicated Women Donate to Help Fight Child Hunger

When women get together for a good cause, great things can happen. Dallas mommy blogger Laura Thornquist turned her local women’s association meeting into a Child Hunger Ends Here Neighborhood Rally. In addition to collecting cans and funds, the group discussed the issue of child hunger within their local school district and came up with simple ways they could each make a difference. “This event was about food, fun, friendship and a community effort to help those in need,” said Thornquist. Sometimes just starting the conversation about ending child hunger can lead to actions that make a huge impact.

Click here to see her personal video with footage of the event.

"Think of this in terms of four, three and two. Every fourth child in Texas is at risk of hunger. Every third child in the city of Dallas lives in poverty. And Texas ranks second in the nation in childhood hunger."

— Jan Pruitt, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank

Please take a moment to view this touching video from the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB) about what “Hunger Is.”

In its 29th year of service, the CAFB provides food and grocery products to more than 350 Partner Agencies in 21 Central Texas counties. Last year, CAFB provided more than 23 million pounds of food. The CAFB service area covers 19,064 square miles in Central Texas.

State of Emergency: Child Hunger in the U.S.

Earlier this month, Feeding America revealed new state-level data on child food insecurity for kids under the age of 5. The study revealed that Arkansas, Texas and Arizona have the highest rates of child food insecurity in the country at nearly 25 percent. Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2006-2008 was funded by the ConAgra Foods Foundation, Feeding America’s exclusive Leadership Partner in the Fight to End Child Hunger. The study also names Missouri, Mississippi, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina, Florida and Oregon, as well as the District of Columbia, at the top of the list.

In addition, the study includes regional data on food insecurity. In the South, more than one in five children or nearly 22 percent of young children are food insecure – the highest rate in the nation. The Western region of the country has the second highest rate of young child food insecurity at nearly one in five, or 19.6 percent. The Midwest has a rate of more than one in six, or 18.6 percent; and the Northeast has a rate of nearly one in seven, or 13.7 percent.

These estimates are expected to rise over the coming years as the full impact of the economic downturn is taken into account. Now, more than ever, Feeding America needs your help to provide a better future for our neighbors down the street and across the nation. Find out how you can get involved and help end child hunger here.

Texas on Top of List for Childhood Hunger! Here’s how to help!

Take a moment to read a blog post from Child Hunger Ends Here blogger correspondent Laurie from My Dallas Mommy.