Childhood Hunger

Latest News on August 2010

August 25
Sysco Corporation to Sponsor Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out

SYSCO CORPORATION IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ITS SPONSORSHIP OF SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S GREAT AMERICAN DINE OUT®, A WEEK-LONG NATIONAL RESTAURANT EVENT IN CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.


MarketWatch
August 24, 2010

Sysco Corporation is proud to announce its sponsorship of Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out®, a week-long national restaurant event in cities across the United States. From September 19-25, 2010, thousands of restaurants will join together in raising funds to support No Kid Hungry™, Share Our Strength’s® national campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

Through the Great American Dine Out, Share Our Strength is working with state, community and private sector leaders across the country to connect families facing hunger with the programs that can help them. The campaign is sponsored by Sysco, Ecolab, American Express, Jacob’s Creek, USA Today and the National Restaurant Association.

Along with Sysco’s financial support, its sales associates are sharing this opportunity with their restaurant customers and encouraging them to participate. Last year, nearly 4,000 restaurants of every size and type helped the Great American Dine Out raise nearly $800,000 by donating a portion of the week’s sales, offering special promotions, or collecting donations from their customers.

Millions of consumers play a vital role in this initiative as well; their choice to dine out at participating restaurants will help feed children in need all across America. Nearly 17 million children in America-almost one in four-lack access to the healthy meals they need every day. Share Our Strength is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting these kids to the food they need to live healthy, active lives.

August 23
SOS's Great American Dine Out Calls On Restaurateurs to Join Campaign

THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS GEARING UP FOR SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S GREAT AMERICAN DINE OUT®, WHICH IS NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR.

Food Channel (Blog)
Posted by the Editor of The Food Channel
August 19, 2010

The restaurant industry is gearing up for Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out®, which is now in its third year.

This annual event to combat hunger in America rallies chain, franchise and independent restaurants to raise funds to help end childhood hunger in America, by participating in a national week-long dine out. This year’s Great American Dine Out is September 19 -25, 2010.

Nearly 17 million children in America, almost one in four, struggle with hunger. They live in families lacking the resources to put nutritious meals on the table, and they suffer the health consequences: impaired growth, development and performance at school, more illness and hospitalizations, and greater susceptibility to obesity than other kids.

“Our mission is to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. It begins with an eagerness to give back to our local communities,” says Ray Blanchette, chief executive, Ignite Restaurant Group and Chairman of the Great American Dine Out Board of Directors. “Partnering with Share Our Strength in the Great American Dine Out is a critical step in aligning the restaurant industry as a whole to give back in a strategic way. Participating in the Great American Dine Out will inspire everyone in an organization, from the office staff to the managers and hourly team members. I urge every restaurant to sign up today to support the Great American Dine Out. It will take everyone in our industry to ensure that no child grows up hungry.”

Since 2007, thousands of restaurants have participated in the Great American Dine Out, rallying their employees, vendors and customers to raise more than $1.2 million to help end childhood hunger. Last year alone, more than 3,500 restaurants raised nearly $800,000 to support No Kid Hungry™, Share Our Strength’s national campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

Registration for the 2010 Great American Dine Out is open to all restaurants across the country. Once registered, restaurants can take advantage of the Great American Dine Out online resource center, full of downloadable in-store marketing materials, templates for publicity tools, and instructions for ordering pre-printed promotional materials. To register, contact Jessie Sherrer, 202/478-6505.

August 19
Taste of the Nation Chicago Tries on Food Trucks

CHEFS FROM ACROSS THE CITY GAVE US THEIR BEST ATTEMPTS AT STREET FOOD DURING LAST THURSDAY’S TASTE OF CHICAGO HELD IN THE ARAGON BALLROOM.

Huffington Post
by Claire Bidwell Smith
August 18, 2010

As if it weren’t already the most talked about subject in Chicago right now, chefs from across the city gave us their best attempts at street food during last Thursday’s Taste of Chicago held in the Aragon Ballroom. The event benefited No Kid Hungry, Share Our Strength’s campaign to end childhood hunger in America.

Even if they didn’t all quite pull off the the street food theme, the 50-plus Chicago chefs brought a ridiculous amount of energy and enthusiasm to the floor. It was my first time attending, and after making my way through the congested entrance I was immediately caught up in the frenzy of it all. Attendees seemed to share a palpable sense of urgency; all of us wanting to try every single dish in the first 20 minutes, as though we might never get another chance like this one again.

And isn’t that the beauty of an event like this? You could go your whole life in Chicago having only eaten at the spots in your surrounding neighborhoods, but after one night at Taste you feel like you’ve just eaten in River North and the West Loop and Logan Square and Wicker Park and a dozen other ‘hoods in one massive grub crawl.

In no particular order, these were some of the highlights for me:

Rick Bayless’ cochinita pibil taco with habanero and pickled onion on freshly made tortillas. Some people thought this was too spicy but I disagree, and I could easily imagine knocking back this kicky little handful from a food truck.

Sunda’s steaming pork belly buns and Sable’s savory wild mushroom veggie burgers.

Getting to see real food truck owners Matt Maroni and Phillip Foss in action. Maroni was parked outside in his Gaztrowagon and Foss was inside the ballroom serving up vegetarian puffy pan sandwiches for The Pickled Tongue.

While Pastoral’s cheese and fruit pairings (think chocolate covered figs with bleu cheese) wouldn’t necessarily translate into street food—I had to find a table to really get to work on this stuff—it was all so tasty I hardly cared.

Same goes for the lamb kafta meatballs and bread atop a shot of lentil soup from Aja. Not sure I’ll ever find myself in a parking lot after midnight downing these babies, but I did go back for two.

I also couldn’t help myself from going back for seconds on The Drawing Room’s Tamale Guy #3 cocktail with Horchata, nutmeg, orange liqueur and Herradura Silver.

Stephanie Izard, with her braised goat chilaquiles, was definitely one of the hottest stops of the night. I saved her for last and this messy but flavorful concoction didn’t disappoint.

The desserts were upstairs and while I sampled everything from Mado’s stone fruit empanadas to chili-chocolate crackerjacks, the winners in my book were Hoosier Mama Pie company’s pie shakes and Black Dog Gelato’s tiny cones of sweet corn cream—a welcome respite from the over-heated ballroom.

Leaving with an overly full tummy was a firm reminder of what the night was all about: Making sure kids around the country get to experience the same.

August 17
Summer Meals up in Denver, Down Elsewhere

CUTS HIT SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAMS

Education News Colorado
Mary Ann Zehr
August 16, 2010

Budget cuts for transportation and a scaling-back of summer school led to fewer children getting free lunches this summer in at least one school district, while economic pressures on families in other locations drove up participation in free or reduced-price meals programs elsewhere.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn’t yet reported data for participation this year in free or reduced-price summer meals programs, but directors of food services in several districts credit the ailing economy with driving participation either up or down, depending on how programs are implemented.

The recession affected participation in nutrition programs funded by the Department of Agriculture last summer, according to an analysis of federal data by the Food Research and Action Center, a Washington-based nonprofit organization. That group, known as FRAC, reported in June that the department’s two summer meals programs — the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program — together served 73,000 fewer children on an average day in July 2009 than in July 2008. An average of 2.8 million children were served each day in July of last year, according to the analysis.

This summer, the number of free lunches provided to children by the Corning-Painted Post district in Corning, N.Y., dropped from 19,305 to 15,710, or by 19 percent, said Christine E. Wallace, the director of food services for the 5,400-student district. Ms. Wallace said that the meals service was slashed in several elementary schools this summer when the district eliminated its K-5 summer school program because of a lack of funding. She said the chances for children to get free meals was also reduced because the district didn’t have any money to transport children to meals sites, such as at churches, a library, and recreation centers, as it had done the previous year. For the three summers prior to last summer, a federal grant paid for transportation of students to meals sites.

In her rural district, which covers 57 square miles, students often don’t get to summer meals sites without transportation, Ms. Wallace said.

Meanwhile, in Denver Public Schools, the size of the district’s summer school program was about the same this summer as last, but the summer nutrition program grew by leaps and bounds. This June and July the district served 123,072 lunches, up from 79,140 lunches last summer, said Leo J. Lesh, the executive director of enterprise management for the Denver schools.

He attributes the jump to an increase in need because of financial pressures on families and increased publicity for the summer nutrition program. That extra publicity was supported by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, who started a statewide initiative last year to end childhood hunger.

Three or four times over the summer, the governor spoke during recorded calls to the homes of the 78,000 students in the district, reminding parents of the free summer meals program.

Mr. Lesh said that the district doesn’t provide transportation to the summer meals sites, but that many children in Denver can get to them. He said that if meals are connected to a summer program, participation is higher.

“If all you are going to do is come in and eat and go home, that makes a difference in participation,” he said. “Some of the recreation centers do better [with participation] because you can go there, play basketball, and eat.”

Connecticut’s New Haven school system also saw an increase in participation in its summer nutrition program this year compared with 2009. The district served 106,451 lunches, up from 102,299 lunches last year, said Timothy Cipriano, a trained chef and the executive director of food services for the district. He attributes the increase to an increase in need among families because of hard economic times.

Summer means vacation time for lots of children, but for students from low-income families, it may not be a happy time, he said.

“When school is out, there is very little availability of good nutrition” for some students, Mr. Cipriano said. He said that food banks and soup kitchens can’t keep up with the demand in the area for food during the summer.

The New Haven district, which has about 20,000 students, has tried various methods to spread the word about a phone number that parents can call to find a summer meals site near where they live. This summer, the district worked with community partners to advertise summer meals on a billboard in New Haven. Mr. Cipriano teamed up with a group called End Hunger Connecticut! to record a public-service announcement for summer meals that aired on radio stations in the state as well.

A national group with a mission to end childhood hunger, Share Our Strength, based in Washington, estimates that only about 17 percent of children who get free or reduced-price lunches during the school year receive meals from federally funded lunch programs during the summer. The group worked with Gov. Ritter of Colorado, a Democrat, to start Colorado’s campaign to combat childhood hunger. The governor issued an executive order setting a goal of ending childhood hunger in the state by 2015.

Josh Wachs, the chief strategy officer for Share Our Strength, said his group raises money so it can provide small grants to organizations to overcome barriers to setting up sites for summer meals.

“There are federal dollars that reimburse for the food, but not for the infrastructure,” he explained. “Many sites need refrigeration, equipment, and transportation in some cases.”

August 16
Oscar Winner Jeff Bridges To Address National Press Club On Childhood Hunger

BRIDGES TACKLES NEW ROLE AS SPOKESPERSON FOR SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S NO KID HUNGRY CAMPAIGN™

PR Newswire
August 13, 2010

Academy Award winning actor Jeff Bridges, recipient of the 2010 Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the film Crazy Heart, will address the National Press Club November 10, in Washington, D.C. Announced today as the National Spokesperson for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign™, Bridges will discuss a new effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Nearly 17 million children in America - almost 1 in 4 -struggle with hunger, according to a 2009 U.S. Agriculture Department report.

“Millions of our kids can’t learn in school because they are hungry,” Bridges says on his official website. “Public charities, food banks, and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can’t keep up with the need. We can never end hunger through the wonderful work of local charities. Like other western democracies, we must end hunger through governmental leadership.”

Mr. Bridges, 60, is a long-time, leading advocate for global hunger issues. In 1983 the actor and musician founded the non-profit End Hunger Network to concentrate on fighting world hunger. The charity now focuses its efforts on raising awareness through the media and generating public action to end U.S. child hunger.

As the new national spokesperson for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign™, Bridges will be working with the non-profit organization to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Over the last 25 years, Share Our Strength has raised more than $280 million and provided funding to more than 1,000 community organizations working to end childhood hunger. For details, go to www.strength.org.

Mr. Bridges will star in the upcoming 2011 film releases of True Grit and Tron Legacy. He recently appeared in The Men Who Stare at Goats and Iron Man. Mr. Bridges earned Academy Award nominations for his roles in the The Last Picture Show, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Starman, and The Contender. He also starred in the films as Against All Odds, Jagged Edge, Fearless, The Big Lebowski, Tron, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Fisher King, Arlington Road, The Mirror Has Two Faces, The Vanishing, Tucker, and King Kong.

The November 10 Press Club luncheon will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Bridge’s remarks will begin just after 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Tickets are open the NPC members and their guests only. Advance reservations should be made by calling (202) 662-7501 or by emailing reservations@press.org. Cost of luncheon admission is $17 for National Press Club members, $28 for their guests. Credentialed press may cover this event.

To submit a question in advance, type BRIDGES in the subject line, and email it to president@press.org before 10 a.m. on November 10. For media inquiries, contact Melissa Charbonneau at melcharbonneau@aol.com.

Event: Jeff Bridges National Press Club Address on Childhood Hunger in America

When: 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 10

Where: National Press Club , 13th floor Ballroom, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

August 16
Taste Of The Nation

TASTE OF THE NATION CHICAGO EVENT - THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2010

Chicago Reader
August 12, 2010

Benefiting Share Our Strength’s efforts to combat childhood hunger, the roster of headliners at this event reads like a who’s-who of Chicago’s culinary cognoscenti, starting with “chef chair” Mindy Segal and honoree Rick Bayless. Food offerings prepared by local chefs draw from a “street food” theme, with beer contributed by Goose Island and Stella Artois. VIP tickets include a gift bag, complimentary valet, and admission to a Chef’s After-Party starting at 10 PM.

tasteofthenation.org

August 16
Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Celebrates The Charm Of The Meatpacking District With New Line-Up Of Over 40 Events

FESTIVAL RAISES FUNDS FOR FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY AND SHARE OUR STRENGTH®

PR Newswire and four other outlets
August 11, 2010

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure is pleased to present an exciting array of over 40 events, original and classics, produced in conjunction with the Meatpacking District Initiative as part of Meatpacking Local presented by The Corcoran Group. This new Festival program, taking place over Columbus Day weekend, October 7-10, 2010 and set against the fashionable and historic charm of the Meatpacking District, is guaranteed to impress. Just like all Festival events, 100% of the net proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.

“With this third year of the festival, we are thrilled to be working with the Corcoran Group to present these incredible events that showcase the dynamic culinary scene of the Meatpacking District,” said Annie Washburn, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Initiative. “We look forward to welcoming all festival attendees and having them experience the true ‘foodie’ nature of the district. We can’t wait for Columbus Day Weekend.”

A new gem included in the Meatpacking Local line-up is “DeBragga at Dusk”, which will showcase six of Manhattan’s most distinguished chefs - Daniel Boulud, Terrance Brennan, Tom Colicchio, Michael Lomonaco, Alfred Portale, and Laurent Tourondel - who will cook alongside some of the country’s finest meat producers from Niman Ranch, South Shore Farms and Joyce Farms. Other new events include: “Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink at Norwood” featuring a multi-storied brunch experience with James Beard Foundation Award Winning chef Michael Schwartz and pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith from Miami and “Sunset Stone Crab” at the Hotel Gansevoort rooftop. The new cooking series - “Master Cooking Classes” - will be led by culinary super-stars like Food Network’s Masaharu Morimoto and Alex Guarnaschelli and held in the kitchens of the chefs’ restaurants. These classes will feature small group, hands-on sessions and a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens on the line.

One of most anticipated highlights of the weekend is Meatpacking Local’s newest event, “Breville’s Ultimate Sandwich Showdown presented by Hellmann’s® with Tyler Florence.” Held in the DeBragga and Spitler Courtyard, this competition will also celebrate the best things “in” sliced bread paired with selections from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Guests will crown the Festival’s first-ever “Sandwich King” in a showdown between some of New York City’s favorite sandwich experts: BaoHaus, Blue Ribbon Restaurants, Blue Smoke Bake Shop, DOB 111,’ ino, No. 7 Sub, Porchetta, Resto, Fort Defiance, The Lobster Place, and Zampa.

Returning favorites include a perfect pairing of bubbly and oysters prepared by New York City’s most renowned seafood chefs at “The Lobster Place presents The Oyster Bash at The Standard” and the “Kids Get Cooking” series led by chefs like Sue Torres and Food Network’s Duff Goldman and the ultimate walk-around wine and food tasting event - “Cooking Channel’s Meatpacking Uncorked presented by The Corcoran Group” featuring some of the top talent from the new channel. As in previous years, “Cooking Channel’s Meatpacking Uncorked” will consist of the district’s chic boutiques and unique shops pouring the finest wines in the W. J. Deutsch & Sons portfolio while the neighborhood’s best restaurants will be serving samplings of their signature snacks.

Once the food lifeline for New York City, the Meatpacking District is home to more than 160 restaurants and shops and now serves as the city’s premier 24-hour hospitality destination. Celebrities, tastemakers, aficionados, and cutting-edge designers will amble along the cobblestone streets throughout the weekend to “uncork” the best the district has to offer. The district’s world renowned boutiques, galleries, exclusive nightclubs and high-end eateries will open their doors throughout the weekend to celebrate the Festival by offering specialty menus, wine tastings, gifts with purchase, and other unique promotions.

Tickets to various events at the 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival are still available! Ticket information and the full line-up of new and returning events can be found at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com, or by calling 866.969.2933. For more Festival updates follow founder and director Lee Schrager on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.

About Meatpacking District Initiative

The Meatpacking District Initiative (MPDI) is a not-for-profit business development organization that was founded in 2003. In just six years, the MPDI has grown to include more than 200 business members and community partners located between 12th and 16th Streets and west of 8th Avenue in Manhattan.

The MPDI represents and promotes the area’s business interests, produces events, manages a marketing and public relations campaign. The MPDI also serves as a collective voice for businesses regarding area changes, relationships with governmental agencies and other community groups.

About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

The 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is produced by Karlitz & Company and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York. Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is also the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival. Hosted by and benefiting the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®, 100% of the Festival’s net proceeds go toward helping these community based organizations fight hunger.

About the Food Bank for New York City

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 27 years as the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the city’s hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — emergency food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of approximately 1,000 food assistance programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 300,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank’s hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Every dollar donated to the Food Bank helps provide five meals to New Yorkers in need. Learn how you can help at www.foodbanknyc.org.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry™ campaign - a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 - Share our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy meals on a budget and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, both nationally and at the state level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved in the No Kid Hungry campaign.

August 12
25 Best Organizations And Charities For Children And How You Can Help

THE TOP KIDS NON-PROFITS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP

Babble
by Christina Couch
August 10, 2010

If solving the social ills of the next generation seems too overwhelming for one parent, don’t sweat it. These organizations are here to help. From literacy advocates to healthcare groups, these kickass nonprofits tackle some of the largest issues plaguing our kids in innovative and exciting ways. Unfortunately, they frequently do it without any thanks. Here’s our salute to twenty-five of the coolest kid-focused nonprofits you’ve probably never heard of. Add your own in the comments, and if you’ve got a few extra bucks … well, you know what to do.

Barrel of Monkeys Productions, Chicago, Illinois
Part theatre troupe, part literacy organization, the actors and teachers who comprise Barrel of Monkeys have their work cut out for them. During the week, Barrel of Monkeys teaches creative writing workshops in Chicago’s under-funded elementary schools. Then, professional actors adapt the children’s sketches, songs and poems, spelling mistakes and all, into live productions for kids and adults. The result is a weekly sketch show that features dance numbers by hip-hop princesses, monologues by vampires that change into cheeseburgers and barbershop quartet-style songs about the perils of being a ninja. The proceeds, of course, filter back into creative writing workshops. Young authors receive encouragement — world saved.

How to Help: Donations are always welcome through JustGive or by setting Barrel of Monkeys as your charity of choice through igive or goodsearch. Chicago-based parents can support the organization by volunteering or going to see a show Monday nights that the Neofuturarium.

Hopelab, Redwood City, California
What’s the best way to help kids fight cancer? Provide them with an arsenal of virtual weaponry. Developing the world’s first video game that addresses issues germane to children with cancer, Hopelab and their Re-Mission game provide a free, non-invasive way for kids to learn about their disease and open a dialogue between patients, doctors and families. Hopelab also offers a digital storytelling workshop to help young cancer patients and survivors connect with others.

How to Help: Parents interested in supporting Hopelab can contact them about donations at 650-569-5900.

New Eyes for the Needy, Short Hills, New Jersey
Nearly 46 million Americans don’t have health insurance. Even fewer have vision insurance. To help kids perform well academically, New Eyes provides free eye exams, glasses, frames and adjustments to low-income neighborhoods in the US and poverty-stricken locations abroad. The kids who receive gently used eyewear have higher grades, fewer headaches, a reduced chance of learning disabilities and better social skills.

How to Help: Unload old glasses, hearing aids and jewelry by shipping them here. Parents can also help by sponsoring local glasses drives, volunteering at a donation site, shopping at the Fabulous Finds store in New Jersey or making a cash donation.

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company, New York City
It’s a store! It’s a reading center! It’s… it’s the only place in Brooklyn where you can get fitted for your own superhero cape. Though it looks like a kitschy toy store out front, the Superhero Supply store actually peddles much more than secret identities and jars of justice. Hiding in the back is the New York chapter of 826, a nonprofit tutoring, writing, and publishing organization that hooks working authors and illustrators up with struggling kids. The organization not only offers the standard reading and homework help, they also publish anthologies of kids work, funds scholarship programs and offer writing workshops and lectures from big wigs including Ira Glass, Jeffrey Eugenides and founder Dave Eggers. If 826 hasn’t wooed you yet, Eggers’s TED Talk about the need for one-on-one tutoring will.

How to Help: Hit up any of the 826 stores nationwide for kitschy gifts, volunteer through your local chapter, support young writers through 826’s online shop or pony up some cash.

Dreams For Kids, Chicago, Washington D.C.
Dreams For Kids has two words for children dealing with physical disabilities — Extreme Recess! Providing physically and developmentally challenged children with the opportunity to participate in modified sports, Extreme Recess seeks to improve physical and mental health through single and team sports. While that goal alone is enough, Extreme Recess takes the challenge to the next level by offering extra demanding options like modified rock climbing, hockey and water skiing, proving that no matter what your ability level, it’s still possible to kick ass.

How to Help: Chicago and D.C.-based parents can volunteer at any of Dream for Kids’ events, check out the organization’s book of inspiring stories or make a donation.

Project Night Night, San Francisco, Cleveland
Blankies, stuffed animals, children’s books, you name it — Project Night Night provides creature comforts for the youngest victims of homelessness. Focusing on children under five, PNN creates Night Night packages designed to help those who can’t articulate their concern overcome the anxiety, emotional and mental stress that comes with home displacement. The project has a second benefit as well. In addition to offering children much-needed care packages, the program also prevents gently used toys from finding their way into area landfills.

How to Help: Donate “like new” blankets, books, toys or gift cards to any of the organization’s pick up sites (listed here), set Project Night Night as your charity in iGive or sponsor a night package here.

Harlem Children’s Zone, New York City
Get ‘em while they’re young. That’s the mission behind Harlem Children’s Zone. Operating a cradle to college education program, HCZ provides support starting from free nine-week pre-birth parenting workshops and ending with college scholarships, post-college internship help and career support. Starting from a one-block project in the 1990’s, the organization is now available to parents within a 100 block radius of Central Harlem and offers comprehensive tutoring, social services, healthcare support, community-building programs, after school programs, legal guidance, financial advice, domestic crisis resolution, personal counseling, obesity awareness and support, summer programs, food pantries, mental health therapy, drug and alcohol abuse counseling, truancy prevention initiatives, job skills workshops for teens and adults and academic advising. As for how effective the program is, see for yourself.

How to Help: Online donations are accepted here, but parents can also organize a book drive in their community to help build HCZ’s library, volunteer or convince your company to offer HCZ students a paid summer internship. More information is here.

The Kramden Institute, Durham, North Carolina
Do you have the stamina to make it through Geek-A-Thon? Less-advantaged students grades 3-12 throughout North Carolina sure hope so! Every month, this nonprofit enlists the services of hundreds of volunteers to refurbish and rebuild computers for students without access to home PCs. Since 2003, when the organization started as a father and son endeavor in a home basement, the Kramden Institute has awarded over 6,000 computers to hardworking students in need.

How to Help: Lend your geeky (or non-geeky) services to the Kramden Institute or donate.

Share Our Strength, Washington D.C., National Locations
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to eat so that others can too. Mobilizing chefs, foodies and anyone with an appetite and a desire to end child hunger, Share Our Strength flexes its socially conscious muscle by putting on community bake sales, nutrition education programs and dining events featuring some of the country’s top chefs. They’re also the geniuses behind the Great American Dine Out. Sink your teeth into something at any participating restaurant September 19th through 25th and a portion of the proceeds go to enroll needy kids in free breakfast and after school snack programs, support community garden initiatives, bring local produce to urban centers and teach at-risk families how to prepare nutritious, low-cost meals at home.

How to Help: Eat through the Great American Dine Out, hold a community bake sale, donate or attend their touring dinners.

Cradles to Crayons, Boston and Philadelphia
You’ve got stuff; they need school supplies. Connecting the two is the simple mission behind Cradles to Crayons. While C2C doesn’t operate any outlandish or particularly unique programs, they earn a spot on our list because of how efficiently they carry out their duties. Operating with little overhead, the organization has earned a four-star rating for financial health and fiscal effectiveness from the watchdog group, Charity Navigator. That means that your donations go to putting school supplies in the hands of needy youngsters and not to superfluous projects.

How to Help: Contribute quality baby and school supplies to either the Boston or Philadelphia office, host a clothing drive in your neighborhood or donate.

Kiva, International
American kids aren’t the only ones who need a leg up. Philanthropists with only a few bucks to spare can help fund international community development projects by contributing to microloan funds for future entrepreneurs around the world. Kiva earns a spot on our list for two reasons — first, donors get to choose which specific projects their funds go to, meaning that if a Peruvian-based mother of two trying to get a sewing company off the ground appeals to you more than a Cambodian parent learning the trade of flower sales, you can support who you see fit. Secondly, Kiva is one of the only organizations that financially rewards its supporters. Because donors are funding loans rather than giving fiscal gifts, they can expect to be repaid with interest. Default rates and repayment term information is available for every entrepreneur who receives funding.

How to Help: Become a microfinancing partner by funding a loan, donate to Kiva directly or spread the word about their education outreach initiatives.

Warm Up America, Gastonia, North Carolina
It’s rare that volunteers get to see how their personal contribution makes a difference. Not so with Warm Up America. Mobilizing community sewing circles across the country, WUA encourages volunteers to crochet or knit their own 7” by 9” rectangle and mail it to their local chapter. Sections are then sewn together to create handmade afghans to be distributed to day care centers, children’s hospitals, women’s shelters, the American Red Cross, AIDS and homeless facilities across the country. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? WUA can set you up with a local group to teach you how.

How to Help: Create your own 7” by 9” section for a Warm Up America blanket, get a crochet or knitting circle going in your area or make a monetary contribution.

CASA, National
When abused and neglected children can’t speak for themselves, courts enlist special representatives to work with the child’s family, foster parents, teachers, therapists, daycare providers, medical professionals and social workers to ensure that the child is receiving adequate care. Short for Court Appointed Special Advocates, CASA volunteers handle one case at a time and frequently remain the only constant while a child is in housing transition. Though CASA volunteers typically have no background in legal work, they remain one of the most crucial components in cases involving voiceless kids.

How to Help: Become a volunteer, make a donation, shop through CASA’s partner stores, contribute stocks and securities or convince your company to make a matching grant.

The Child Health Site, International
No time, no money, no problem. As one of the few ways busy parents can support international relief efforts without forking over half their bank account, The Child Health Site allows armchair philanthropists to help a worthy cause with the click of a mouse. For every visitor who clicks the site’s online Child Healthcare button, advertisers and site sponsors will make a small donation to organizations that provide Vitamin A and oral rehydration therapy for poverty-stricken children in Haiti. Those who want to do some extra credit can make contributions to world hunger, animal rescue, literacy, rainforest and breast cancer support organizations by clicking on buttons for affiliate sites. Don’t fret about the site taking a little off the top — 100 percent of all sponsor donations go directly to charity.

How to Help: Click here every day, shop through fair trade partner stores, sign any of the organization’s online petitions or simply spread the word to friends and family.

KaBOOM!, National
KaBOOM! has one simple goal — protect and preserve play for America’s low-income neighborhoods. Constructing playgrounds and skate parks across the US, the group also makes direct grants with low-income communities, providing construction jobs along the way. To date, the organization is responsible for creating more than 1,750 playgrounds throughout the nation, providing physical, non-video game entertainment for approximately 3.5 million kids.

How to Help: Host or join a play day in your community, start an initiative to build a play space in your community (here’s how to get started) or donate directly to KaBOOM!

My Stuff Bags Foundation, Westlake, California
When abused kids are forced to leave their homes, they rarely have time to pack. That’s where My Stuff Bags comes in. Creating pre-packed bags filled with toys, games, blankies and stuffed animals to be distributed to homeless and domestic violence shelters, MSBF is frequently the first line of comfort child victims experience.

How to Help: Volunteer, donate or send new children’s toys, photo albums, journals, books or school supplies to the address at the bottom of the page here. Volunteers can also make blankets for the organization using this simple pattern.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Wynnewood, Pennsylvanian
When life gives you lemons… well, you know what to do. To raise money to fight her own childhood cancer, Alexandra “Alex” Scott, a four year old based in Wynnewood, set up her own lemonade stand. On the first day, she raised over $2,000. Although Alex passed away in 2004, her work continues through lemonade stands across the country. A quick and easy way to introduce young kids to charity projects, lemonade stands created in Alex’s name have raised over $12 million to fund cancer-related research projects and to fund travel for families of cancer patients.

How to Help: Host a lemonade stand in your area, volunteer your time, make a purchase through the gift shop, donate or check out sponsorship opportunities.

Breakthrough Collaborative, National
High school and college students need summer jobs; kids from under-funded middle schools need academic support and mentors. To conquer both problems at once, Breakthrough provides older kids with paid teaching internships then allows them to teach small, college prep courses as well as extracurricular electives to middle school children in need of older role models and an extra academic boost. Students help other students, the cycle of poverty and dropouts is broken and everyone winds up better off. Not bad for a day’s work.

How to Help: Donations, donations, donations. Parents can also contribute stock or volunteer.

Earth Conservation Corps, Washington D.C.
The only way to stop the constant destruction of our environment is to help the younger generation get close to it. This organization tackles environmental woes of both the urban and pollution varieties by taking unemployed youth off the streets and placing them on clean-up and restoration efforts along the Anacostia River. Workers walk away with job skills, environmental expertise and a sense of satisfaction.

How to Help: Volunteer in the D.C. area or make a donation.

North American Council on Adoptable Children, National
All children are adoptable regardless of their physical or mental challenges. Dedicated to finding children once deemed “unadoptable” permanent homes, this organization works specifically with children with physical, mental and emotional difficulties and parents who are willing to take on such challenges. In addition to simply connecting needy kids with loving parents, the organization also provides strong support systems to help families reach emotional and financial stability along the way.

How to Help: Adopt if you can. If not, make a contribution.

Miracle Flights for Kids, Green Valley, Nevada
To help families manage the fiscal burden of sending their sick kids to specialized medical centers, Miracle Flights is here to help. Mobilizing pilots, donors and corporate sponsors, the group flies families from home to hospitals year-round completely for free. Donors can contribute funds or kick over their airline miles. So far, the organization has coordinated more than 63,000 flights and counting.

How to Help: Donate cars, cash or airline miles here. Parents can also set up charitable registries to benefit Miracle Kids here and companies can also donate corporate gifts here.

Ear Candy Charity, Phoenix, Arizona
When school budgets get cut, arts programs are usually the first to go. To revive dying music programs in Arizonan schools, this nonprofit creates free after-school music programs and provides instruments to area schools. Of course, there are hundreds of music charities nationwide that focus on introducing at-risk kids to the joy of song. What separates Ear Candy from the rest of the pack is their “Beyond the Classroom” project which provides children extracurricular with “industry” experiences like radio station tours and guitar-making workshops. Even those that don’t play are invited to learn the business.

How to Help: Get rid of old musical instruments by sending them here. Musicians can also donate their time or pick up some sweet gifts through the online shop. Donations are accepted too.

Child’s Play Charity, Seattle, Washington
They say that video games will rot your brain, but they can also take your mind off of your problems. For hospital-bound kids, the ability to destroy zombies and fire away at enemy targets can be a much-needed reprieve from treatments and bed rest. Child’s Play provides more than sixty hospitals worldwide with gaming systems and games kids can check out during their stay. The games not only provide a diversion, they also offer suffering children a way to meet and greet other gamers in their ward.

How to Help: Child’s Play shirts and greeting cards are available online. Information on ongoing charity events is available here, and donations are accepted.

Save Kids of Incarcerated Parents, Georgia, Michigan, Alabama
When an adult goes to jail, children are frequently the forgotten casualties. Providing services ranging from peer mentoring to writing workshops to family game nights, SKIP strives to provide a surrogate support system to children of jailed parents and to break the cycle of incarceration.

How to Help: Donate or purchase a SKIP t-shirt here. Contact SKIP directly about volunteer opportunities here.

CircEsteem, Chicago, Illinois
At-risk kids and circus arts seem like an unlikely marriage, but thanks to CircEsteem’s roster of dedicated volunteers, the project works. Besides offering circus arts classes — think juggling, acrobatics and trampoline stuff — the group also provides an after-school program that combines an hour of homework study with an hour of “circus work.” Fees are determined on an income-based sliding scale, and healthy snacks are provided by Whole Foods. So far, the homework-circus tricks one-two punch seems to be working. In a city where less than half of all public high school students graduate, 100 percent of CircEsteem students turn their tassels.

How to Help: Donate or send the organization something from their wishlist. Information on volunteer opportunities is available here.

August 10
Recap Of Taste Of The Nation Utah 2010

MORE THAN 50 RESTAURANTS CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE 11TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT OF SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S TASTE OF THE NATION UTAH

Examiner
by Heather King
August 7, 2010

On Sunday, August 1, 2010 hundreds of food supporters traveled up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Solitude Ski Resort to enjoy the dining complications of more than 50 restaurants that came together to support the 11th anniversary event of Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Utah. A beautiful day of great food and drink was had by all. Food tents were in perfect form, handing out goodwill and delicious bites. The beer and wine tents, bottled water providers as well as the Rimini Coffee area kept the event hydrated. Live and silent auctions completed the day.

The nationwide event raises money to ensure that more than 12 million children at risk of hunger have nutritious food to eat. Since its inception 21 years ago, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $73 million.

Check out the slideshow below to see the wonderful offerings presented at Taste of the Nation Utah 2010.

View Slideshow»

August 6
Senate Passes $4.5B Nutrition Bill

THE $4.5 BILLION BILL IS THE FIRST MAJOR LEGISLATIVE VICTORY FOR MICHELLE OBAMA’S LET’S MOVE INITIATIVE

Politico
by Abby Phillip
August 5, 2010

The Senate voted to approve a $4.5 billion childhood nutrition bill on Thursday, which funds food programs in public schools, delivering on a key component of first lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to combat obesity.

It marks the first legislative victory for Obama, who has addressed the issue of childhood obesity at agencies across the executive branch, in public events and in the private sector.

“Over the past few months, this bill has garnered widespread support from both Democrats and Republicans, all of whom care deeply about the health and well-being of our children and are committed to ensuring they have the nutrition they need to learn, grow and succeed,” the first lady said in a statement.

Many of the priorities of Obama’s Let’s Move initiative were included in the bill’s reauthorization, including the adoption of national food nutrition standards on all school campuses, and a funding increase that would result in healthier food options in school cafeterias.

“The presence of the first lady — her compassion, her diligence, her tenacity in wanting to see something happen on behalf of the children in the is country - has been amazing, and I am certainly grateful to her for all that she has done,” Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) said on Thursday.

The vote comes after weeks of negotiation between Lincoln, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Senate leadership, who had been reluctant to give concrete assurances that the bill would get time on the floor before the August recess.

In July, Obama issued a statement calling for Congress to act before the current legislation expires in September. And in a Senate speech last week, Lincoln called for time to offer amendments and approve the “Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act,” which passed unanimously out of her committee in March.

Senators found a path forward this week when they funded the reauthorization using a different set of budget offsets from the food stamp or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which the Senate also used to fund a $26 billion state aid and education funding bill on Thursday.

SNAP received a funding boost in the 2008 stimulus bill, but has suffered deep cuts this week, with a $19.9 billion used from the emergency state aid bill; the child nutrition bill will siphon off another $2.2 billion from the program. In a conference call with reporters on Thursday, Lincoln said the money cut from SNAP would not have been spent until 2013, “so we’ve got time to recoup.”

“I think it’s appropriate if these tax dollars are going to be spent that they’re spent on healthy food for kids,” Lincoln said.

The Let’s Move initiative, which President Barack Obama and the first lady both support, calls for a $10 billion increase in funds for the childhood nutrition program in the 2011 budget. The bill the Senate passed Thursday only includes a portion of those funds, but is paid for from offsets to other federal programs.

“In this budget environment, with record deficits, we have been able to produce a bill that is fully paid for and will not add one dime to the deficit,” Lincoln said in a Senate floor speech Thursday. “It is the fiscally responsible thing to do for our children.”

It also follows Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid’s decision to abandon plans to push a small business bill — a priority for President Barack Obama — and a pared down energy bill through the Senate before the break.

Advocates credited Lincoln and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the Agriculture Committee’s ranking member, for shaping the “strong” legislation, and praised the bill’s inclusion of the first increase in the reimbursement rate for school lunch programs in almost 40 years.

Michael Jacobson, the Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, praised the committee leaders for securing a vote despite the “crowded” Senate schedule.

“The Senate bill changes the school food landscape in ways that are all positive,” Jacobson said. “Put simply, it will get junk food out of, and put more healthy food into, America’s schools. It preserves the free and reduced-cost meals that many families depend on in an economic downturn.

August 6
Stephan Pyles Hosts Share Our Strength Dinner Benefit

THERE IS STRENGTH IN FLAVORS

Dallas Observer
by Nicole Holland
August 5, 2010

Imagine a gathering of the world’s superheroes in one location—Superman, Batman, Captain America, Wolverine, The Hulk, Wonder Woman and Spiderman—all in the name of charity. But instead of spandex, these heroes wear white aprons and Crocs, and instead of superpowers, they all wield super-sharp knives. We’re talking about chefs here, and some of the most talented in the country. They’ve all come together to raise money for Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit, an organization and project that strive to end childhood hunger in America by the year 2015. Each superstar chef will prepare one plate in a phenomenal multi-course menu paired with wine. The participants include Stephan Pyles of Stephan Pyles and Samar by Stephan Pyles; Matt Teiichi Sakurai of Tei-An; R.J. Cooper III, formerly of Vidalia in Washington, DC; Randall Copeland and Nathan Tate of Ava Restaurant in Rockwall; and others. You, too, can help make a difference in the world by joining the cause at Stephan Pyles (1807 Ross Ave.) on Sunday. A cocktail hour begins at 6 pm, followed by dinner at 7 pm. Tickets are $175 per person. Make a reservation by calling 888-273-6141 or visit strength.org/atp_dallas.

August 3
A Food Bill We Need

“LET’S MOVE!” IS HELPING PARENTS GET THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES HEALTHY AND FIT.

The Washington Post
by Michelle Obama
August 2, 2010

Last spring, a class of fifth-grade students from Bancroft Elementary School in the District descended on the South Lawn of the White House to help us dig, mulch, water and plant our very first kitchen garden. In the months that followed, those same students came back to check on the garden’s progress and taste the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor. Together, they helped us spark a national conversation about the role that food plays in helping us all live healthy lives.

For years our nation has been struggling with an epidemic of childhood obesity. We’ve all heard the statistics: how one in three children in this country are either overweight or obese, with even higher rates among African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans. We know that one in three kids will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. We’ve seen the cost to our economy — how we’re spending almost $150 billion every year to treat obesity-related conditions. And we know that if we don’t act now, those costs will just keep rising.

None of us wants that future for our children or our country. That’s the idea behind “Let’s Move!”—a nationwide campaign started this year with a single and very ambitious goal: solving the problem of childhood obesity in a generation, so kids born today can reach adulthood at a healthy weight.

“Let’s Move!” is helping parents get the tools they need to keep their families healthy and fit. It’s helping grocery stores serve communities that don’t have access to fresh foods. And it’s finding new ways to help America’s children stay physically active.

But even if we all work to help our kids lead healthy lives at home, they also need to stay healthy and active at school. The last thing parents need or want is to see the progress they’re making at home lost during the school day.

Right now, our country has a major opportunity to make our schools and our children healthier. It’s an opportunity we haven’t seen in years, and one that is too important to let pass by.

The Child Nutrition Bill working its way through Congress has support from both Democrats and Republicans. This groundbreaking legislation will bring fundamental change to schools and improve the food options available to our children.

To start, the bill will make it easier for the tens of millions of children who participate in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program — and many others who are eligible but not enrolled — to get the nutritious meals they need to do their best. It will set higher nutritional standards for school meals by requiring more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while reducing fat and salt. It will offer rewards to schools that meet those standards. And it will help eliminate junk food from vending machines and a la carte lines — a major step that is supported by parents, health-experts, and many in the food and beverage industry.

Over the past year, I have met with community leaders and stakeholders from across the country — parents and teachers, school board members and principals, suppliers and food service workers — about the importance of making sure every child in America has access to nutritious meals at school. They all want what’s best for our children, and they all know how critical it is that we keep making progress.

That’s why it is so important that Congress pass this bill as soon as possible. We owe it to the children who aren’t reaching their potential because they’re not getting the nutrition they need during the day. We owe it to the parents who are working to keep their families healthy and looking for a little support along the way. We owe it to the schools that are trying to make progress but don’t have the resources they need. And we owe it to our country — because our prosperity depends on the health and vitality of the next generation.

Changes like these are just the beginning, and we’ve got a long way to go to reach our goals. But if we work together and each do our part, I’m confident that we can give our children the opportunities they need to succeed — and the energy, strength and endurance to seize those opportunities.

The writer is first lady of the United States.