No Kid Hungry Campaign Comes to Connecticut!
Posted by Chef Timothy Cipriano on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The state of Connecticut, also known as the “Constitution State,” has a rich U.S. history. From its role in founding the U.S. federal government to its charming New England landscapes to its premier restaurant industry (if I do say so myself), what we don’t want written in history books about us is that Connecticut is also home to more than 127,000 children at risk of hunger.
That’s why as a chef, the New Haven Taste of the Nation® co-chair and executive director of Food Services for New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) and an outspoken anti-hunger advocate, I could not be more thrilled to announce that Share Our Strength and End Hunger Connecticut! today are officially launching the Connecticut No Kid Hungry Campaign!
Joined by Connecticut Governor Malloy, USDA’s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, and State Senate President Don Williams, State Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan, a diverse group of community, education and business leaders, are coming together and committing to doing their part to end childhood hunger by 2015.
Federal food and nutrition programs such as the Summer Meals and After School Supper Programs close the hunger gap when kids are not in school, yet only 26 percent of eligible Connecticut kids get summer meals and at least 24,000 kids who could be getting supper are only getting an after school snack.
So how will this partnership help?
The Connecticut No Kid Hungry Campaign aims to increase summer meals participation by ensuring there are enough locations, launching an English/Spanish website with summer meal site listings and providing outreach grants to help organizations start up or expand summer meals programs. In the first year, the campaign will increase participation by a full 10 percent.
The campaign also plans to increase the number of children who get supper each school day by reaching out to after school snack providers, summer meals sites, school meals vendors and state-funded after school programs in high-need communities to serve suppers. Again, the first-year goal is to reach an additional 10 percent of eligible kids.
What I’m also thrilled about is that proceeds for the Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation New Haven event on June 8 will go to the No Kid Hungry Campaign, local organizations working to end childhood hunger, as well as Share Our Strength’s national and international efforts. This event gives foodies a great opportunity to sample bites from the area’s best chefs while supporting the campaign. Tickets to this culinary event are available at TasteOfTheNation.org/NewHaven.
And yes, I will of course continue to push the envelope when it comes to offering students more fresh fruits and veggies, and less processed foods – not only is this campaign about ending childhood hunger. It’s about making sure our kids have nutritious meals while in school. So, join me. Take the pledge to end childhood hunger by 2015 in Connecticut.
Related Link: Today’s guest blogger: Dawn Crayco: Why do children go hungry in CT?
March 23, 2011 | 0 comment(s) | Tags: afterschool programs, chefs, No Kid Hungry, state partnerships, summer meals, Taste of the Nation
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