Where it all started
Since 2003, Second Harvest’s Food for Kids program has sought to provide meals for children – reaching them through the care of their schoolteachers. During this year’s Pack the Bag fundraising campaign, the program reaches a 22-year milestone.
In 2005, a couple of years after Food for Kids began, we heard more from the community about the current need:
“You wouldn’t believe the horror stories we hear on a daily basis – kids spending the night in automobiles – kids deeply upset because of mom and dad fighting – kids who had barely anything to eat over the weekend.”
Lynn Ray, Former Principal of East Lafollette Elementary School for Lafollette Press (story by Jim Dossett)
Though this statement was made 20 years ago, its relevance continues to be clear to those studying today’s statistics: more than 15,000 children in East Tennessee need food, and those are just the kids we know about.
Hunger is a Hidden Crisis
When you were a kid, did you have trouble standing up for yourself? Many children may yet not know how or where to ask for help, or even where their next meal will come from once they leave school for the weekend. This is why hunger is a hidden crisis.
It’s our job as the adults of our community to speak up for these children – that we believe in Food for Kids, and that no child should go hungry, ever.
Weekends should not = Hunger
For a kid, weekends should mean playing outside, spending time with family & friends, and laughing & smiling through it all. Weekends should not = hunger, but for more than 15,000 children in East Tennessee, they do.
Many children rely on free or reduced-price meals at school. But when Friday arrives, they go home to empty pantries, trying to find food until Monday morning. Take February’s winter weather as an example – a snow day may be fun for most kids, but for some, that’s two school meals they’ll be missing.
The Solution
The good news is that hunger IS a solvable problem, and it has local solutions. Though Second Harvest covers 18-counties, every participating school (nearly 300 and counting), helping hand, or individual donor can make an enormous and immediate difference.
Consider being a part of Food for Kids, and ask those you can count on to do the same for our children.
How it Works
- Teachers and school staff identify students who are at risk of going hungry. The program relies on community donations to make sure no child is left behind.
- Second Harvest provides kid-friendly, nutrient-rich bags of food. Each bag contains fruits, dairy, vegetables, grains, and protein – foods that are easy to prepare, no cooking required, and safe for young children to eat on their own. As a result of the contents being packaged in a way that’s suitable for small hands, Food for Kids is our most expensive program.
- Every Friday, children in need discreetly receive a bag to last them through the weekend. These food bags don’t just provide calories; they provide hope, stability, and a sense of security for children who don’t have a reliable food source at home.
The Impact on Children’s Lives
- Improved School Performance: Teachers report that students in the Food for Kids Program show better focus, higher attendance rates, and improved test scores because they aren’t distracted by hunger.
- Hunger Affects Mental & Physical Health: Children who experience food insecurity are at a higher risk for developmental delays, chronic health conditions, and emotional stress. By providing food, we’re also promoting long-term well-being.
- Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: When children get the nutrition they need, they grow up healthier, stronger, and better equipped to break free from generational poverty.
The Power of Community Giving
It only takes $8 to feed a child for an entire month, and $100 to feed a child for a full year – a small amount that can transform a child’s life.
At Second Harvest, we see to it local dollars stay local. Every dollar donated to our Pack the Bag fundraising campaign goes directly to feeding children right here in our community.
Nourishing the Future
As Food for Kids reaches its 22nd anniversary, we’re more bittersweet than celebratory. The positive impact the program has had on East Tennessee children is without question, but the fact that the number of hungry children continues to rise is heartbreaking. That’s why from now through February 22nd, we’re asking the community for support to help us Pack the Bag to meet the growing need.
Because the growing pains of childhood shouldn’t include hunger.
For more information on Pack the Bag or to GIVE NOW, please visit SecondHarvestETN.org/pack-the-bag. Whether you donate, share, or volunteer, you have the power to change a child’s future.