As school yards quiet down for the summer break, the rumble of hungry stomachs among NYC's youth speaks volumes—with nearly 1 in 4 kids facing food insecurity, many don't have the luxury of a carefree summer. According to ABC7NY, the Food Bank for New York City is stepping up its game, continuing its decades-long mission to support pantries and programs across the five boroughs. This year's substantial effort includes the distribution of fresh produce, a staple in their mission, with one third of their volume coming from their 90,000 square foot Food Distribution Center in Hunts Point.
Meanwhile, HelloFresh, the leading meal kit provider, is joining forces with No Kid Hungry to launch the "Hunger Hero" campaign—a savvy move that marries the convenience of meal kits with social responsibility. In a collective effort that's bringing stars and online influencers to the table, they're raising the bar, awareness, and potentially meals, with HelloFresh donating up to $10,000 based on social media engagement through likes, shares, and comments, as per Business Wire. Tapping into the influencer network, they're not just handing out free meal kits but also serving up crucial information on SNAP benefits and summer EBT, driving engagement through local heroes who've proven their commitment to serving up change.
The issue is far from trivial, with nearly 422,000 children in New York City living in food-insecure homes, a number that only gets more alarming when you cross the bridge into the Bronx—where more than 1 in 3 children are experiencing food insecurity. The Food Bank for NYC has put considerable weight behind their efforts, distributing 100 million pounds of food year-to-date and receiving a powerful boost from Disney's donation of 450,000 meals, which was spotlighted during a segment on "Good Morning America," as repoirted by ABC7NY.
And it's not just about food; it's about restoring a sense of normalcy and joy to kids during a season that should be filled with the latter. "Fighting food insecurity is deeply important to me," Tini Younger, a viral chef and ambassador for "Hunger Hero," said in a statement obtained by Business Wire, "Being a part of this campaign is not just about food it's about dignity, joy and the chance for kids to be kids." With local heroes joining forces with large organizations, the campaign is setting sights on turning the tide against summer hunger and igniting a movement that challenges communities to take action.
