While the Child Hunger Ends Here Neighborhood Rally Campaign has come to a close, the fight against child hunger will continue both on this blog, through the ConAgra Foods Foundation and with the help of readers like you.

Every rally, every re-Tweet, every post and word of encouragement has brought us one step closer to ending child hunger. We appreciate all of the support and will continue the discussion to encourage even more people to help the smallest victims of hunger live better lives. We will share more on our results in the coming weeks.

The Child Hunger Ends Here Neighborhood Rally Campaign would like to personally thank our army of benevolent bloggers whose efforts both online and off have made this program a roaring success:

Many thanks to …
Kelly from The Centsible Life

Laura from MyDallasMommy
Niri from Mommy Niri
Christie from Inside The Chatter Box
Melinda from Look What Mom Found
Tamara from The Unexperienced Mom
Andrea D. from Mommy Snacks
Andrea F. from Savvy Sassy Moms
Courtney from Detroit Mommies
Jenny from The Suburban Jungle
Molly from The Snyder 5 
Judy from Dirt Road Musings
Jessica from It’s my Life…
Danielle from Extraordinary Mommy

Thanks again to everyone for your help in the fight against child hunger!

Shonda, an Atlanta pre-school teacher, remembers a few winters back when she and her two young children avoided using the living room during winters. It was the coldest room in their home, perpetually devoid of warmth as they tried to cut back on heating bills. During that challenging time, Shonda relied heavily on the goodness of her friends, begrudgingly borrowing money when she couldn’t afford to buy food for her children. It was the kind of predicament she never thought her family would have to face.

“You know, I sacrificed, I went to college….Why am I going, financially, through this?” she would often ask herself. While Shonda could never boast about living a luxurious life, the money she made as a teacher had been enough to send her daughter, Farri, to an after-school program that the little girl’s school ran. Things drastically changed for the family a few years ago when the new management at her pre-school made a few budgetary cuts. Shonda was left out of a job and in need of affordable daycare as she picked up temping jobs and submitted resumes.

A friend told Shonda about a reputable mixed-income after-school program that served snacks and dinner to kids for a small fee each month. The after-school program kept their costs low due the support and food they receive from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. While Shonda juggled utilities and other bills, her mind was eased knowing that Farri and Elijah would have a nutritious meal each night after their tutoring sessions at the after-school program – and that these features wouldn’t cost her an arm and a leg.

Now employed in a new pre-school and back in grad school for a counseling degree, Shonda is happy her kids have a safe place to play, learn and find a nutritious meal.

Find out more about the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Thanks to Feeding America for letting us share this story. Learn more about the work Feeding America is doing to fight hunger.

While financial donations can make a world of difference to local food banks, volunteers can be just as valuable. An entire day or just an afternoon spent at a food bank means you’re directly helping that facility feed more children. Lend a hand in your local community by:

• Tutoring kids at your local Kids Cafe.
• Repackaging donated food for use at food pantries.
• Transporting food to charitable agencies.

Get involved, and make it even more fun by asking your family and friends to join the fight against child hunger.  For information on opportunities in your area, please contact your local food bank.

There is also still time to host your own Child Hunger Ends Here rally. Turn a bake sale, lemonade stand even a movie night to a rally and donate all or a portion of the proceeds to Feeding America. Learn how you can get involved today

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.