Childhood Hunger

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Raising Awareness of Childhood Hunger in Colorado

Summary:

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SUMMER MEAL SITES SO THAT LOW-INCOME CHILDREN CAN NOW OBTAIN A NUTRITIOUS LUNCH AT ONE OF MORE THAN 300 LOCATIONS STATEWIDE.

July 12

Raising Awareness of Childhood Hunger in Colorado

Denver Post Online
by Joe Crea
July 8, 2010


Re: “Feeding needy kids,” July 6 news story.

Thank you for your article raising awareness of the problem of childhood hunger in Colorado and the existence of the Summer Food Service Program.

Last November, I joined with Hunger Free Colorado and Share Our Strength to launch the Colorado Campaign to End Childhood Hunger by 2015. Coalition partners include businesses, the faith community, nonprofits and state agencies, and we are making tremendous progress.

We have significantly increased the number of summer meal sites so that low-income children can now obtain a nutritious lunch at one of more than 300 locations statewide.

The campaign also is engaged in an unprecedented outreach effort to inform Coloradans that free meals for children under 18 are now available. We have created a new toll-free number, 877-93-HUNGER, and website, summerfoodcolorado.org, to help families find the nearest summer food site. No forms, no paperwork, no bureaucracy. Just nutritious meals for hungry children. Later this month, our campaign partners, Education Commissioner Dwight Jones and I will announce the School Breakfast Challenge. We will challenge every principal in Colorado to increase the number of students receiving school breakfast. Research — along with common sense — clearly shows that hungry kids cannot learn or grow into healthy, thriving adults.

By working together, we can end childhood hunger.

While I’m not campaigning for re-election, I am campaigning to end childhood hunger. Please join me in ensuring that all Colorado children get the opportunity they deserve to fulfill their God-given potential.

Gov. Bill Ritter Jr.

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