State Partnerships
No Kid Hungry State Strategy
TO SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE CHILDHOOD HUNGER, YOU HAVE TO START WITH A STRONG, THOUGHTFUL PLAN OF ATTACK.
Today, childhood hunger across the nation is handled piecemeal by federal, state and local governments and various nonprofits. As a result, no single entity is held accountable to ensure no kid goes hungry. Until now. Share Our Strength is taking on childhood hunger through our state strategy: launching state- and city-based No Kid Hungry campaigns across the U.S. Each campaign is dedicated to ending childhood hunger in its specific geographic area by building private-public partnerships with local anti-hunger groups, government agencies, corporate partners, and key political, education and business leaders. These partnerships focus on increasing participation in federal nutrition programs which, in turn, unleashes millions of federal dollars to connect kids who are at risk of hunger to the food they need to succeed.
In each location, this model has already shown great progress in a short period of time because we have set attainable goals and created a system of accountability within each coalition. While No Kid Hungry campaign plans are unique to every location, each plan includes the following fundamental objectives:
- Provide all kids with a healthy breakfast;
- Improve access to after school meal programs
- Encourage healthy food choices;
- Help eligible families access food stamps;
- Improve access to summer meals programs; and
- Ensure access to balanced, nutritious diets for all pregnant women and preschool children.
Currently, Share Our Strength is evaluating other new launch locations for 2011. Location selection is guided by need, capacity and readiness, funding potential and a Share Our Strength presence. Even as No Kid Hungry campaigns spread out across the nation, Share Our Strength continues to support numerous other efforts that end childhood hunger in every state.
Each No Kid Hungry state (or city) campaign brings to the table governors or mayors, state and city agencies, leaders in education, business and politics, private funders, citizen-activists and some of the same nonprofits we've been investing in all along. Together, they implement an action plan that has measurable goals, and overcomes the barriers to making sure every child in that state or city gets the food they need, where they live, learn and play.
State Partnerships
Arkansas
The No Kid Hungry campaign in Arkansas launched in October 2010 with a goal of ending childhood hunger in the state by 2015. This partnership, which includes Share Our Strength, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, and Governor Mike Beebe, is working to increase participation in the SNAP program by 5 percent and serving an additional 121,343 free meals to kids in the summer of 2011.
Arkansas No Kid Hungry Campaign
Lead Partners: Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and the Office of Governor Mike Beebe
Lead Sponsor: Walmart
Launched: October 2010
Colorado
In 2009, Share Our Strength partnered with Hunger Free Colorado and Governor John Hickenlooper to launch the Colorado No Kid Hungry Campaign. The Campaign focuses on increasing participation among eligible children in Summer Meals, School Breakfast, the SNAP program, and the Afterschool Snack program.
The Colorado Campaign to End Childhood Hunger
Lead Partners: Hunger Free Colorado and the Office of Governor John Hickenlooper
Lead Sponsor: Walmart
Launched: November 2009
Connecticut
Share Our Strength and End Hunger Connecticut!, a statewide anti-hunger and food security organization, began the Connecticut No Kid Hungry® Campaign in March 2011 to help end childhood hunger in the state by 2015. This partnership focuses on increasing participation among eligible children in the Summer Meals and After School Supper Programs.
Partners: End Hunger Connecticut! and the Office of Governor Dan Malloy
Lead Sponsor: C&S Wholesale Grocers
Launched: March 2011
Florida
Since October 2007, Share Our Strength and Florida Impact, a statewide anti-hunger organization, have been working to end childhood hunger in the sunshine state. The Florida No Kid Hungry® campaign concentrates on increasing enrollment among eligible children in the state's Summer Meals, Afterschool Snack, and School Breakfast programs.
Lead Partners: Florida Impact
Lead Sponsor: Sodexo Foundation and Walmart
Launched: October 2007
Georgia
The Georgia Feeding for a Promising Future - No Kid Hungry® Campaign brings together Share Our Strength, the Georgia Food Bank Association and other stakeholders to work towards ending childhood hunger in the state. The campaign is working to increase participation in Summer Meals and Afterschool Meals programs through mini-grants and increased awareness. The Georgia campaign is partnering with the state administrator of the federal reimbursement programs (SFSP and CACFP) to conduct regional information sessions around the state to maximize outreach and awareness efforts. The campaign is also growing enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through trainings and outreach activities.
Lead Partners: Georgia Food Bank Association and Gov. Nathan Deal
Lead Sponsors: Walmart and Con Agra Foods Foundation
Launched: Fall 2011
Los Angeles
In March 2011, Share Our Strength, California Food Policy Advocates, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa launched the Los Angeles No Kid Hungry® campaign, a countywide public-private partnership. The campaign works to connect more than 600,000 children and teens to School Breakfast and child care nutrition programs.
Lead Partners: California Food Policy Advocates and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Lead Sponsor: Walmart
Supporter: Yum-o!
Launched: March 2011
Maryland
Since November 2008, Share Our Strength and the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland have been working to increase participation in the state's Summer Meals, Afterschool Snack, School Breakfast, and WIC programs. Efforts have resulted in a measurable increase in children participating in summer nutrition programs and continue to see positive results.
Lead Partners: Maryland Hunger Solutions and Governor Martin O'Malley's Office for Children
Lead Sponsor: Walmart, Kaiser Permanente and Sodexo Foundation
Launched: November 2008
New Mexico
Launched in February 2011, the New Mexico No Kid Hungry® Campaign is a partnership between Share Our Strength and the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger, a statewide anti-hunger organization. Though outreach and awareness, the campaign aims to increase participation in School Breakfast and Summer Meals programs, with a special focus on rural areas.
Lead Partner: The New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger
Launched: February 2011
New Orleans
In November 2010, Share Our Strength, Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, the Greater New Orleans Partnership for Youth Development, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu joined forces to form the New Orleans No Kid Hungry® Campaign. The campaign works to increase enrollment among eligible children in Summer Meals and School Breakfast programs. Incorporating Cooking Matters nutrition education curriculum is also a priority.
Lead Partners: Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, the Greater New Orleans Partnership for Youth Development and Mayor Mitch Landrieu
Lead Sponsors: Walmart
Supporter: Yum-o!
Launched: November 2010
New York City
Launched 2010, Share Our Strength and the New York City Mayor's Office have convened a diverse group of organizations and stakeholders to form the New York City No Kid Hungry® Campaign. A campaign priority is to increase Summer Meals program participation through a coordinated outreach effort.
Lead Sponsor: Walmart
Launched: Summer, 2010
North Carolina
No Kid Hungry® North Carolina brings together Share Our Strength; NC Serves, the nonprofit partner to Share Our Strength that works with the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service; and Gov. Bev Perdue to work towards ending childhood hunger in the state. Recent reports indicate that more than 1 in 4 children in North Carolina do not get sufficient food. The partnership is working to address this challenge by increasing participation in School Breakfast and Summer Meals programs through pilot programs and awareness initiatives.
Lead Partners: NC Serves and Gov. Bev Perdue
Launched: September 2011
Texas
Texas ranks 5th highest in the country for child food insecurity with more than 1.8 million children in the state at risk of hunger. The Texas No Kid Hungry® Campaign is working to end childhood hunger in the state by increasing participation in School Breakfast, Summer Meals programs and other food and nutrition programs. The campaign brings together Share Our Strength, the Texas Hunger Initiative, community organizations, corporate partners and government agencies to collaborate and find opportunities to end childhood hunger.
Texas No Kid Hungry Campaign
Lead Partner: Texas Hunger Initiative
Lead Sponsor: Walmart
Sponsor: Yum-o!
Supporter: Maximus
Launched: October 2011
Virginia
The Virginia No Kid Hungry® campaign brings together Share Our Strength, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, and Gov. Bob McDonnell to work towards ending childhood hunger in the Commonwealth. The Campaign is increasing awareness and participation in the Summer Meals program.
Virginia No Kid Hungry
Lead Partners: Federation of Virginia Food Banks and Gov. Bob McDonnell
Lead Sponsor: Sodexo Foundation and Walmart.
Launched: June 2011
Washington
End Childhood Hunger Washington is an initiative of the Children's Alliance in partnership with Share Our Strength. Its mission is to advance a statewide campaign to end childhood hunger through policy change, collaborative programming, strategic funding and targeted awareness building. The Partnership focuses on increasing participating among eligible children in Summer Meals and School Breakfast programs.
End Childhood Hunger Washington Partnership
Lead Partner: Children's Alliance
Launched: 2007
Washington, DC
Established in 2007, the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in the Nation's Capital is working to create a hunger-free community in order to improve the nutrition, health, economic security, and well-being of low-income District residents. The Partnership works to increase Summer Meals program participation among eligible District children and teens.
Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in the Nation's Capital
Lead Partner: D.C. Hunger Solutions
Launched: April 2007
Bring the No Kid Hungry Campaign to your state! Click here to learn more.
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