Dine Out this September and Help Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign End Childhood Hunger in America

Restaurants Nationwide Invite People to Dine Out, Donate and Help the One in Five Kids in America Who Struggle with Hunger

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This September, restaurants in every state are teaming up with Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign to help end childhood hunger in America, one meal at a time.  All month, people across the country can dine out at participating restaurants, make a contribution and take advantage of valuable promotions, coupons and rewards in return for doing their part.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130903/DC72305 )

Patrons can find participating restaurants matching all cuisines and budgets in all 50 states at NoKidHungry.org. As a long-time champion for No Kid Hungry, Food Network celebrity and successful restaurateur and chef Marc Murphy urges people to dine out and do good.

"As a chef and a father, I know how important a family meal can be, and I believe every child in America deserves that," said Murphy. "This September, we have the chance to make our meals out together even more meaningful. By simply dining out at a participating restaurant you are supporting No Kid Hungry and you can help make sure children get the healthy food they need every day."

One in five children struggles with hunger in America, and as kids head back to school, many are returning to class hungry.  According to a new report released by the No Kid Hungry campaign, three in four teachers and principals report regularly seeing hungry kids in their schools – the highest number in the four years of conducting this research. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting kids with the nutritious food they need to learn and grow, such as school breakfast.

"While childhood hunger is a large problem, it's one we can solve together," says Tom Nelson, president of Share Our Strength. "By dining out and participating in promotions for No Kid Hungry, your support will help us make sure more kids get important meals like school breakfast, so they can concentrate in class, learn and succeed as students. Every dollar counts, literally. Just one dollar can help connect a child in need with up to 10 meals, so donations of all sizes make a real impact."

In what is typically a highly-competitive marketplace, this effort represents an unprecedented mobilization of the restaurant industry to collectively support ending childhood hunger.  Over the past five years, restaurants have teamed up to raise approximately $10 million, which has supported No Kid Hungry's recent accomplishments, including connecting kids to 34 million additional meals since the summer of 2011, while also rallying supporters to send more than 104,000 letters that urged congressional representatives to protect critical funding for federal nutrition programs.

Generous supporters of the effort include National Restaurant Association, American Express, Ecolab, Food Network, ONEHOPE Wine and SCA Tork.  Additional featured participating restaurants include:  Arby's, Bruegger's Bagels, Corner Bakery Cafe, Denny's, Joe's Crab Shack, la Madeleine, Mimi's Cafe, Restaurants Unlimited Inc. and Romano's Macaroni Grill.

In addition to dining out during September, supporters nationwide will raise awareness about the crisis of hunger right in their own communities. Supporting television networks, websites, businesses and members of the public will "go orange for No Kid Hungry," turning their social networks, offices, and selves a bold color to reflect the bold solution No Kid Hungry has for ending childhood hunger in America.  What's more, on September 16, thousands of advocates will take to Twitter to "twEAT OUT" for an all-day online conversation about the issue.

To find a full list of participating restaurants and learn more ways to get involved this September, visit NoKidHungry.org.

About SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S NO KID HUNGRY CAMPAIGN
No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals through Cooking Matters.  This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

Contact: Anne Houseman, [email protected], 202-478-6513

SOURCE Share Our Strength