Gov. Snyder Launches 'Michigan No Kid Hungry' To Fight Childhood Hunger

Partnership with Share Our Strength and United Way for Southeastern Michigan Will Connect More Kids to School Breakfast, Summer Meals and Nutrition Education

DETROIT, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder joined Share Our Strength®, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Public Schools, and a diverse group of education, government, community and business leaders to launch Michigan No Kid Hungry® at Gompers Elementary School in Detroit today.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111221/DC26040LOGO-a)

Michigan No Kid Hungry is a partnership with Share Our Strength, a national child anti-hunger organization, and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, with support from the State of Michigan that will end childhood hunger in the state by promoting proven strategies that connect Michigan kids with healthy meals where they live, learn, and play.

"For Michigan children to succeed and thrive, they need access to healthy meals each and every day," said Gov. Snyder. "Working together through efforts like this will help do just that and make a positive difference for our kids, communities, health, and economy."

Almost one million rural and urban Michigan households need help to afford enough food at some point during the year. A Share Our Strength survey of teachers also showed that nearly two-thirds (65%) of teachers said there are children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry because they are not getting enough to eat at home.

The first year priorities of Michigan No Kid Hungry are to bring together a collaborating table of stakeholders who will focus on connecting kids to school breakfast and summer meals programs and teaching families at risk of hunger how to get more food for their money and better nourishment from those foods through Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters®.

"We will be expanding our work with schools across the state of Michigan to implement innovative breakfast practices that help increase school breakfast participation, such as Breakfast in the Classroom, where kids eat breakfast at their desks, making it a part of their academic day," said Michael J. Brennan, President and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Michigan. "At the same time, we're focused on connecting kids to free summer meals by raising awareness about the program and getting more summer meals sites set up."

More than 580,000 students across the State of Michigan ate a free or reduced-price school lunch—an important indicator of need—during the 2010-2011 school year.  Yet less than half of those students (48.2%), received free or reduced-price school breakfast. In addition, only 13.5 out of every 100 kids who ate a free or reduced-price school lunch in school year 2009-2010 received a free summer meal. Reasons for low participation vary by program but include stigma, transportation barriers and a lack of awareness of food programs and how to access them.

"We know that children who skip breakfast or other meals are more likely to make errors, be absent or tardy and to repeat a grade," said Roy Roberts, Emergency Manager of Detroit Public Schools. "We also know that not all families can afford to feed their children three meals a day and ensure that they have the fuel they need to excel in the classroom, which is why Detroit Public Schools for the first time ever this year began offering free healthy breakfasts and hot nutritional lunches to all students in K-12. We applaud the state of Michigan and its Michigan No Kid Hungry partners for their efforts to end childhood hunger."

Share Our Strength is investing more than $145,000 in Michigan No Kid Hungry with generous support from sponsors the Arby's Foundation and Weight Watchers®. Michigan No Kid Hungry is part of Share Our Strength's national campaign to end childhood hunger with campaigns in 17 other states and cities.

"This is the moment to act," said Billy Shore, founder and CEO of Share Our Strength. "Right now, a fifth of our youngest generation is struggling with hunger. When these kids get the food they need, they feel better, they learn more and they grow up stronger. The good news is that, together, we can make that happen."

A recent survey conducted by Share Our Strength and the ConAgra Foods Foundation found that 85 percent of low-income families rate eating healthy meals as important, but many parents are struggling to afford the ingredients to make healthy meals. Cooking Matters teaches families at risk of hunger how to get more from their food resources and cook healthy meals, through cooking, shopping and nutrition education.

"We have found that families that participate in nutrition education programs, such as Cooking Matters have reported that they are eating a wider variety of healthy meals and feel more empowered when confronting the variety of items offered in grocery stores," said Kareemah El-Amin, Executive Director of the Michigan Food Bank Council. "The long term benefit that nutrition education can have on the health and wellness of families go hand-in-hand with increased access to food to improve the quality of life in Michigan's communities."

Since 2005, Share Our Strength has partnered with Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan to provide Cooking Matters programming to Michigan families. In 2012, Gleaners expects to expand programming to 36 counties across Michigan (up from 11 counties in 2011), reaching 11,500 people at risk of hunger.

Share Our Strength's national No Kid Hungry efforts are supported by Share Our Strength core partners ConAgra Foods Foundation, Food Network and Walmart. Visit www.Strength.org to learn more about Share Our Strength and NoKidHungry.org/Michigan to learn more about Michigan No Kid Hungry.

About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives.  Through its No Kid Hungry® campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved.

About United Way for Southeastern Michigan
About United Way for Southeastern Michigan United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Campaign and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at www.liveunitedsem.org.

SOURCE United Way for Southeastern Michigan