Connecting Kids to Meals (CKM) provides healthy meals at no cost to youth ages 18 and younger in the community.
Hunger Action Month is a national campaign that occurs during the month of September to highlight child food insecurity. “Hunger Action Month is a time when CKM helps to inform our community about the tens of thousands of kids who face food insecurity in our area: one out of every four kids faces hunger. We not only need to increase awareness, but we need our community to help us by sharing this information, making a donation and/or volunteering. Nutritional meals are key for the proper development of kids’ bodies and minds” said Wendi Huntley, president of CKM. “Partnering with afterschool programs in our area helps to make sure that kids get the nutrition needed to learn and to be actively engaged during afterschool hours.”
During the academic year, CKM partners with nearly 70 afterschool locations where educational, enrichment or fun activities are taking place. This includes schools, libraries, parks, churches and community centers where about 2,200 nutritious meals will be served daily.
HPJ Industries and Designetics Cares Foundation have stepped up to provide $75,000 in matching funds. Every dollar contributed up to $75,000 will be matched.
“We are encouraging everyone in our community to consider making a donation to assist us with reaching and exceeding this goal so that no kid in our hometown goes hungry,” said Ms. Huntley. “We need every Hunger Action Super Hero’s help. If we can raise the $150,000, that means CKM can provide 300,000 well-balanced meals to kids.” In addition to providing afterschool meals, weekend meal packets are distributed at the end of the week that contain shelf stable items.
Last year, CKM served more than 776,000 nutritious, hot meals and more than 7 million meals have been served since the organization started in 2002. To make a donation, visit connectingkidstomeals.org/ superheroes/.
