New Website Mobilizes Youth Advocates to Take Action Against Childhood Hunger in America

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of children, teens and college-age adults are taking action to end childhood hunger in America, with the help of a new website, NoKidHungry2.org, part of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign. 

NoKidHungry2.org, developed by Share Our Strength in partnership with Sodexo Foundation, is heavily integrated with social media platforms like Facebook (http://facebook.com/NoKidHungry2), enabling youth to use the site wherever they are, and build a shared community supporting anti-hunger youth advocacy. The site focuses on a wide range of offline activities that youth can lead or participate in with friends to help end childhood hunger in their communities. The site will also give voice to young hunger advocates by featuring stories from their peers about their experiences battling a needless condition that impacts more than 16 million kids in the United States.

Linnea Jordan, a student at American University, recently blogged about the site, noting that, "I became involved with No Kid Hungry2 when I realized how many children go to school without a proper breakfast. I visited the website NoKidHungry2.org and saw all the opportunities available for young kids and their parents, high school and college students to help in this effort!"

Parents, teachers and youth leaders are also welcome visitors to NoKidHungry2.org. A button on the home page connects adults to tools and ideas to engage kids. For example, this month teachers are invited to check out the Shamrocks for Hunger activity. 

Most site visitors start by taking the No Kid Hungry Pledge, and asking their friends to do it, too. They can also start by 'liking' NoKidHungry2.org on Facebook. Earlier this month Sodexo Foundation pledged to make a $1 donation to No Kid Hungry for every 'like' on No Kid Hungry 2 fan page during the month of March, up to $5,000. Fans reached this milestone in the first seven days of the initiative, and the 'likes' keep coming in, demonstrating youth's tremendous passion for this cause. A second phase of that campaign began this week, where a $1 donation will go to No Kid Hungry for every "like" on the Sodexo Foundation – STOP Hunger fan page through April 30th, up to another $5,000. Funds raised will be used to ensure that kids in the U.S. get the healthy food they need to flourish.

 What else can youth advocates do on NoKidHungry2.org?

• They can learn about child hunger by watching a video of kids talking about what it feels like to be hungry, or an animated video about a fictitious girl named Lily, her mom, and the difference No Kid Hungry makes in their lives. 
• They can spread the word about childhood hunger and how No Kid Hungry is helping by organizing a Wear Orange Day at school (orange is the No Kid Hungry color) or writing a blog or op-ed piece for their school newspaper. 
• They can raise funds to help No Kid Hungry reach more kids who are at risk of hunger—there are ideas for holding bake sales, car washes, raffles, talent shows, carnivals, potlucks, collecting spare change, and more are being added all the time.
• They and their adult leaders can use any of the downloadable tools on the Resource Center.

What's behind the name?

No Kid Hungry 2 is a reference to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in America and to youth as the second generation of No Kid Hungry advocates. The site is the result of a partnership between Share Our Strength and Sodexo Foundation, who have worked together since 2003 to fight childhood hunger in the United States.

To further its goal of engaging youth in the national anti-hunger movement, Sodexo Foundation provided funding for a collaborative effort of Share Our Strength and YSA (Youth Service America) to create an online youth action center, No Kid Hungry 2. The site is designed to encourage and educate a new generation of passionate and dedicated young leaders to advocate for No Kid Hungry among their school peers and friends, and become part of the No Kid Hungry movement.  Learn more at NoKidHungry2.org. 

About Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On-site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, Remote Site segments and Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $17 million in grants to end childhood hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

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, Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in federal nutritional programs, invests in community anti-hunger organizations, teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals, and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, nationally and at the state and city levels.

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.