By Kaitlin Breuleux – 1st Grade Teacher
In every community, of every size, in the city, suburbs and rural communities, childhood hunger is a heart wrenching issue that reveals itself in one inescapable fact – 1 in 6 kids will face hunger in America. That’s according to “No Kid Hungry” – a campaign of Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization committed to ending childhood hunger.
And, nowhere are the realities associated with this problem more prevalent than in the classrooms of our schools. It is here where teachers, like me, experience first-hand this problem everyday with many of our students. That’s because collectively, teachers spend more time educating their students compared to the amount of time they get to spend with their families during the school year.
Most of my first-grade students are from low income families. When they’re at school, they can enjoy a nutritional breakfast and lunch. Being able to enjoy a healthy meal helps them during the day to concentrate better, focus on their assignments and do their best in the classroom. It’s in the evening and over the weekend, when school’s out, that it becomes more difficult to avoid being hungry.
At the school where I teach, on Fridays, students are provided bags with non-perishable food items that are delivered to their homes for them to enjoy during the weekend. It helps a great deal, but that doesn’t stop my students from worrying about it all.
One student came up and asked me if the food bags would be available to him and his family during the summer. I assured him that the food would be provided, but I wish he didn’t have to worry at all.
That’s why I am glad that “No Kid Hungry” is partnering with Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurants. Throughout the month of September, anyone who donates $2 or more while dining at any of their restaurants, for lunch or dinner, they’ll receive a $5 “thank you card” for their next visit.
On behalf of all my students, I invite you to take time to see and hear for yourself a brief video about my experiences at school. Thank you for listening.
NOTE: To learn more about “No Kid Hungry” month and how Spaghetti Warehouse is helping to make a difference, visit www.NoKidHungry.org for more information about this nationwide effort to end childhood hunger.