Recap: Virginia No Kid Hungry Campaign Launch
Posted by Davis Rennolds on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Virginia is known for its rich history, beautiful beaches, and scenic mountains. But sadly, in the Commonwealth that gave us George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, more than 218,000 children face hunger.
Before serving as the Virginia No Kid Hungry Campaign Manager, I had the privilege to serve on Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Inaugural Committee and then in his administration. From day one it was easy to see the Governor’s commitment to making sure no child went hungry in Virginia. A partnership with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks was something he has been committed to during his time in office.
After a month of build-up for the Virginia launch, it was finally here! Academy Award Winner and No Kid Hungry National Campaign Spokesperson Jeff Bridges, Gov. McDonnell, and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, along with Share Our Strength and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks launched the Virginia No Kid Hungry® Campaign yesterday. To kick off the event, we all gathered at Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington.
From the moment we set foot on the school yard grounds you could feel the excitement from the students and the staff at Barcroft. The launch was special for all ages. The Super Sprowtz, a group of veggie puppets, emceed the event, which thrilled the kids and made for some funny moments for the adults. Share Our Strength was determined to make the event memorable and what’s more memorable then having the Governor (Bob McDonnell) and The Dude (Jeff Bridges) share a stage and be introduced by a carrot and a piece of broccoli?
The message of all the speakers was a simple one — too many kids in this great Commonwealth go to bed hungry. It is a problem that is not due to a lack of food, but a lack of communication. Their commitment to end childhood hunger in Virginia was made loud and clear.
This public-private partnership will help to connect thousands of low-income kids to federal food and nutrition programs such as the Virginia Summer Meals for Kids Program, which starts as soon as school is out for the summer.
More than 218,000 children in Virginia face hunger, yet more than 80 percent of children who receive a free or reduced price lunch during the school year don’t participate in summer meal programs. Gov. McDonnell and campaign partners will work together to increase participation in summer meals and after-school food programs by collaborating with key stakeholders to more effectively administer the programs and by leveraging private and federal funding.
The Virginia campaign is made possible through support from the Walmart Foundation, the Sodexo Foundation, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, and Dominion Resources.
To find out more about the Virginia No Kid Hungry Campaign, you can go to www.NoKidHungry.org/Virginia.
June 8, 2011 | 0 comment(s) | Tags: bob mcdonnell, jeff bridges, no kid hungry, virginia
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