MFSN builds on the Food is Medicine movement by mobilizing Medicaid systems to address food and nutrition insecurity, especially for children and families. Nearly half of the 72 million Medicaid beneficiaries are children, and 14 million Medicaid enrollees are food insecure.

“There’s a significant body of evidence that Food is Medicine programs, from SNAP and WIC to medically tailored meals, can generate huge healthcare savings and improved outcomes for Medicaid systems and beneficiaries,” says Share Our Strength’s Director of Medicaid and Benefits Integration, Dr. Julian Xie.

GRANTEES

The following organizations will receive the $75,000 award over 18 months, along with cohort learning opportunities and technical assistance focused on engaging with state Medicaid agencies and managed care organizations:

• Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico
• Ohio Association of Foodbanks
• SC Thrive
• Feeding Texas

“We are thrilled and honored to be selected,” said Stephanie McGuire, Chief Learning & Development Officer at SC Thrive. “This grant will help us strengthen partnerships with state agencies and advocate for policies that connect Medicaid recipients to vital nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC, ensuring that eligible children and families get the comprehensive support they need.” 

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About the MFSN Co-Designers

Share Our Strength is working to end hunger and poverty in the United States and abroad. Through proven, effective campaigns like No Kid Hungry, we connect people who care to ideas that work.

HealthBegins partners with and trains courageous leaders to improve the social drivers of health and equity at all levels: individual social needs, community-level social determinants of health, and deeper structural determinants of health equity.

The post The Medicaid Food Security Network Funds Critical Work in Four States to Address Food and Nutrition Insecurity appeared first on Share Our Strength.

Media Contact: Allison deBrauwere Ruta; aruta@strength.org

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2025 – Share Our Strength, the anti hunger and poverty organization behind the award-winning No Kid Hungry campaign, has hired two new members of its Executive team: Leah Ray as Chief Revenue Officer and George Kelemen as Senior Vice President of Program Partnerships, Campaigns and Advocacy.  

As Chief Revenue Officer, Ray will operationalize and spearhead the strategic vision for the organization’s diverse revenue streams. She will work with a highly-skilled senior development team to implement innovative fundraising tactics and track progress through data to enhance the performance for all of the organization’s revenue generating programs. 

As Senior Vice President of Program Partnerships, Campaigns and Advocacy, Kelemen will oversee the organization’s advocacy efforts to maximize access to and participation in federal nutrition programs and build family economic mobility. Kelemen’s responsibilities include leading a highly-skilled team; building partnerships and coalitions with other nonprofits and political leaders; and expanding this work to other geographies through proven programmatic models.

“Share Our Strength was built on the belief that everyone has a strength to share and we’re incredibly proud that Leah and George have chosen to bring their strengths to our work,” said Anne Filipic, CEO of Share Our Strength. “Leah and George’s  innovative spirits, passion for the cause, and excitement to work in partnership with talented teams will be transformative in achieving both revenue goals and expanding our programmatic impact.” 

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to build upon Share Our Strength’s 40 year history and play a key role alongside the organization’s partners, donors, and staff to ensure a world where no child faces hunger,” said Leah Ray.

“We can make no kid hungry a reality when we strengthen the programs we know work, including school meals and programs like SNAP and Summer EBT,” said George Kelemen. “I’m honored to join Share Our Strength and build on the organization’s impressive work.”

Leah Ray joins Share Our Strength most recently from Social Capital where she served as chief strategist for nonprofit and foundation clients. Earlier in her career, Leah built and led transformational fundraising teams with roles at Greater Chicago Food Depository, Feeding America and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.

George Kelemen joins Share Our Strength from Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies where he served as Executive Director. A proven association executive with over 25 years of experience at the local, state and federal levels, he has also held roles at the Texas Retailers Association, Airports Council International-North America, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and AARP.

For full bios, please visit: https://shareourstrength.org/leadership/ 

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About Share Our Strength

At Share Our Strength, we’re ending hunger and poverty—in the United States and abroad. Through proven, effective campaigns and programs like No Kid Hungry, we connect people who care to ideas that work. Learn more at ShareOurStrength.org. 

The post RELEASE: Share Our Strength Welcomes New Chief Revenue Officer and Senior Vice President of Program Partnerships, Campaigns and Advocacy appeared first on Share Our Strength.

Contact: Laura Rice lrice@strength.org 

Washington, D.C. – Share Our Strength, in collaboration with HealthBegins and Benefits Data Trust, has launched the Medicaid Food Security Network (MFSN), a national forum of healthcare and food security stakeholders dedicated to mobilizing Medicaid systems to becoming a key partner in addressing food and nutrition insecurity for children and families. With an emphasis on closing the enrollment gap in SNAP and WIC, the Network aims to build upon the momentum of the Food is Medicine movement by elevating opportunities to center children and families in healthcare-based nutrition interventions.

The Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to more than 80 million people, has the unique ability to reach members furthest from economic resources who may not be able to access adequate food and nutrition. Mounting evidence indicates that addressing food security is crucial for improving health outcomes, reducing health inequities, and cutting healthcare costs, presenting a significant opportunity to mobilize Medicaid resources and infrastructure. 

“The Medicaid system is a powerful vehicle to address food insecurity for children and families, as part of whole person care. We’re excited to see so many states invest in connecting Medicaid members to food resources, but we have more work to do,” says Share Our Strength managing director Kelleen Zubick. 

As one of the Network’s first initiatives, Share Our Strength is funding four state-based organizations to play a critical role in supporting the implementation of promising food-security policy initiatives within their state Medicaid programs. Grantees will receive $70,000 for an 18-month period, as well as cohort learning opportunities and technical assistance. The four grantees are:

• Federation of Virginia Food Banks
• Food Bank Council of Michigan
• Oklahoma Policy Institute
• Voices for Georgia’s Children

“We are ready to capitalize on this opportunity to improve food security for Oklahomans enrolled in Medicaid,” says Angela Monson, Outreach & Legislative Director at Oklahoma Policy Institute and former Oklahoma State Representative and Senator. “We hope to see our residents on Medicaid connected to SNAP and WIC, as well as the other food resources they need to thrive.”

About the MFSN Co-Designers

Share Our Strength is ending hunger and poverty–in the United States and abroad. Through proven, effective campaigns like No Kid Hungry, we connect people who care to ideas that work.

HealthBegins partners with and trains courageous leaders to improve the social drivers of health and equity at all levels: individual social needs, community-level social determinants of health, and deeper structural determinants of health equity. 

Benefits Data Trust helps people live healthier, more independent lives by creating smarter ways to access essential benefits and services, including food, healthcare, and other critical needs. 

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About Share Our Strength: At Share Our Strength, we’re ending hunger and poverty—in the United States and abroad. Through proven, effective campaigns and programs like No Kid Hungry, we connect people who care to ideas that work.

The post RELEASE: Share Our Strength Provides Key Funding to State-Based Advocates to Support Food Security Policy Initiatives for Children and Families appeared first on Share Our Strength.

[Media: For photos and b-roll click HERE]

Contact: Allison Ruta, aruta@strength.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Share Our Strength, the organization behind the award-winning No Kid Hungry campaign, has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing the root causes of childhood hunger in the United States. Recognizing that it takes more than food to end hunger, Share Our Strength is investing $6.7 million across 28 organizations in 12 states to help families, particularly single mothers with lower incomes and their children, achieve financial security. Through advocacy for policy change and programmatic strategies, partners are working on three high-impact areas: removing barriers to increased incomes and wages, reducing the cost burden of food, and shifting the narrative around single mothers experiencing poverty.

Despite being consistently employed, single mothers and their children face extraordinary levels of food and financial insecurity due to intersecting barriers, including limited access to living wage employment, high costs of basic needs, and social stigmatization. These barriers make it challenging to meet daily needs such as food, childcare and safe housing options, perpetuating a cycle of generational poverty and hunger. Of the nearly 8.5 million single mothers in the U.S., 61% are considered low-income and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the increase in food insecurity in 2022 was most pronounced for households with children headed by single women with 33.1% living with hunger.

“Strong, stable, and secure mothers help raise strong, stable, and secure kids,” said Lillian D. Singh, senior vice president, Family Economic Mobility at Share Our Strength. “By supporting single mothers, we aim to break the cycle of poverty and hunger that affects too many families across the country. We’re eager to fuel the incredible work of our community partners, and stand ready to convene a national conversation to champion a better future for single mothers raising children.”

Because narratives about who is deserving of help shape policy, a key component of this work is also to reframe the national conversation and demystify misconceptions about single mothers experiencing poverty that don’t match the reality of this resilient yet vulnerable population.  In addition to narrative change, Share Our Strength is locking arms with partners working on high-impact solutions, including leadership and job training, transitional employment, academic support, child care assistance, access to tax benefits like the Child Tax Credit and a root-cause policy agenda.  One of the main goals is to promote best practices by organizations like Jeremiah Program, which are among the most successful in leading transformative change for single mothers and their children. 

“We deeply believe that when single moms win, our country wins,” said Chastity Lord, President and CEO, Jeremiah Program. “At Jeremiah Program we encourage moms to both express gratitude and exercise frustration for bad public policy that feeds generational poverty. Influencing systems change is also their birthright. For over 25 years Jeremiah Program has supported single moms in dreaming big dreams for themselves, their children, and their communities. We thank Share Our Strength for acknowledging the vital role economic mobility plays in eradicating poverty generation by generation, and recognizing the valuable work Jeremiah Program is fulfilling to ensure these women and their children have bright and bountiful futures.” 

This work is supported by the Albertsons Companies Foundation. As a recipient of the Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Innovation Spark Grant of $3 million, Share Our Strength will support creative locally tailored solutions for single mothers such as career coaching; stipends for food, housing, and childcare; counseling support; tax services and more.

“We are committed to supporting innovative programs and partnerships helping break the cycle of hunger in the communities we serve,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, president and Executive Director for Albertsons Companies Foundation. “We developed these grants so we can support organizations that are at the forefront of creating long-term solutions for moving families and individuals out of food insecurity. As Share Our Strength launches their economic mobility work, we know they will champion this work through their expertise and innovation to bring a far-reaching impact in ending hunger.”

Additional funders of Share Our Strength’s family economic mobility work include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. 

Lead partner organizations include: 

• Black Land Ownership Council (BLOC) (Massachusetts)
• Bonton Farms (Texas)
• CASH Campaign of Maryland (Maryland)
• Children’s Health Watch and Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (Massachusetts)
• Foundation Communities (Texas)
• Golden State Opportunity (California)
• Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) (National)
• Jeremiah Program (National)
• LIFT (National)
• Louisiana Budget Project (Louisiana)
• Maine Equal Justice (Maine)
• Mississippi Economic Inclusion Coalition (Mississippi)
• Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative (MLICCI) (Mississippi)
• MomsF1rst (National)
• National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) (National)
• National Disability Institute (National)
• New Moms (Illinois)
• Policy Matters Ohio (Ohio)
• RAISE Texas (Texas)
• Reuben V Anderson Center for Justice (RVAC) (Mississippi)
• Song Community Development Corporation (SONG CDC) (Louisiana)
• The Children’s Defense Fund of OH (Ohio)
• The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (Virginia)
• The Current Project (National)
• The Middleburg Institute (Louisiana)
• Washington Center for Equitable Growth (National)
• Women’s Institute for Science, Equity and Race (WISER) (National)
• Women’s Bean Project (Colorado)

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About Share Our Strength: At Share Our Strength, we’re ending hunger and poverty—in the United States and abroad. Through proven, effective campaigns and programs like No Kid Hungry, we connect people who care to ideas that work.

The post RELEASE: Share Our Strength Unveils Groundbreaking Investment of $6.7 Million to Advance Economic Mobility for Single Mothers and Their Children appeared first on Share Our Strength.

This press release was issued by The Food Trust.

Contact: Carolyn Huckabay, chuckabay@thefoodtrust.org

February 26, 2024, Philadelphia, PA – The Food Trust, a national nonprofit working to ensure nutrition security for individuals, families and communities, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Cooking Matters. This nationally recognized nutrition education program, developed by Share Our Strength in 1993, has reached nearly 1 million individuals through courses, tours and flexible lessons in communities across the country. The program includes interactive, evidence-based curricula and resources for children, families and adults; its customizable lessons and toolkits focus on shopping and cooking healthy meals on a limited budget within a variety of community-based settings.

“Cooking Matters has the power to change people’s lives, and we are grateful that it has found a new home at The Food Trust,” said Chuck Scofield, Executive Vice President of Share Our Strength. “I can think of no organization that better aligns with the values and mission of Cooking Matters and the dedicated partners across the country who bring the program to life.”

A nationally recognized organization whose mission is in direct alignment with the Cooking Matters program, The Food Trust currently provides direct nutrition education programming in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, reaching over 30,000 children and families each year. In taking ownership of Cooking Matters, The Food Trust will build on its three decades of expertise in nutrition education and technical assistance, providing training and support to over 150 partners nationwide.

“We are thrilled and honored to be the new home for Cooking Matters, a resource we have always considered a model for nutrition education programs,” says Heidi Gorniok, Director of Community Nutrition at The Food Trust. “Cooking Matters has clearly demonstrated its ability to positively impact the lives of families and communities across the country.”

Adds Mark Edwards, President & CEO at The Food Trust: “No one should have to choose between eating healthy and eating enough. We are confident that adding Cooking Matters to our offerings will allow us to ensure that even more children and families have the resources they need to thrive.”

The program, including materials, digital assets and partner resources, will be fully transferred to The Food Trust by the end of September 2024.

About The Food Trust

Founded in 1992, The Food Trust works with neighborhoods, institutions, retailers, farmers and policymakers across the country to ensure delicious, nutritious food for all. Backed by three decades of research and evaluation, our holistic, community-centered approach to nutrition security weaves together three core programming elements — access, affordability and education — as well as a focus on advocating for public policy solutions. To learn more, visit thefoodtrust.org.

The post RELEASE: The Food Trust Acquires Nationally Renowned Nutrition Education Program appeared first on Share Our Strength.

Contact: Laura Washburn, lwashburn@strength.org or 202-649-4335

October 23, 2023, Washington, D.C. – The anti-hunger and poverty organization Share Our Strength has hired Steven McCullough as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), after a national search conducted by Korn Ferry. McCullough, a proven strategist and leader with extensive experience in dynamic mission-driven organizations, will lead operations for the nonprofit as it works to transform systems so families thrive and end childhood hunger in the U.S.

As COO, Steven will partner closely with Share Our Strength’s CEO and executive team to ensure alignment, operational excellence, organization-wide communication, and collaboration across all departments. He will drive increased internal alignment and coordination to help achieve optimal performance and sustainable growth in a manner consistent with Share Our Strength’s mission-driven culture.

“The work of Share Our Strength is transformational and I am excited to be a part of the team that is dedicated to the goal of ending child hunger and focused on increasing the quality of life for children and families around the world,” said McCullough.

Previously, Steven was Chief Operating and Equity Officer for Communities in Schools. While there, he led Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Finance; Human Resources; Information Technology; Alumni Support; and Business Development for the national organization dedicated to surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. He began his career in operations management at The Quaker Oats Company and supply chain consulting at Accenture and has held leadership roles at the Chicago Association of Neighborhood Development Organizations (CANDO), Bethel New Life, Safer Foundation, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

“We are delighted that Steven has chosen to bring his talents to Share Our Strength,” said CEO Anne Filipic. “Steven’s deep commitment to equity, anti-hunger and anti-poverty work, as well as his experience operationalizing at scale will be invaluable as we move into the next phase of our journey.” McCullough joins Share Our Strength as of October 16, 2023 and will be based out of the organization’s Washington, DC headquarters.

The post RELEASE: Steven McCullough Joins Share Our Strength as COO appeared first on Share Our Strength.

Contact: Meredith Jorss, mjorss@strength.org

September 26, Washington, D.C. – On September 20, Share Our Strength hosted Voices of Resilience: Action to Support Children and Empower Community, an event designed to explore pathways to economic mobility so that Black communities thrive. 

Held to coincide with the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, the event included a panel discussion, moderated by Alencia Johnson, in conversation with Jotaka Eaddy and Dr. Michael McAfee, followed by a reception honoring the contributions of the Black leaders, policymakers and activists who have collectively spent decades on the front lines of the fight against systemic and generational poverty. 

“For nearly 40 years, our organization has been working to help solve childhood hunger in the U.S., most recently through the No Kid Hungry campaign, Yet, we know that it takes more than food to end hunger,” says Ashanti Lewis, Associate Director of Federal Government Relations at Share Our Strength. “As we work to address the root causes of food insecurity, the Congressional Black Caucus is a vital partner in raising awareness about the issue of childhood hunger and in implementing solutions to ensure children, families, and communities are able to live without hunger and poverty and have what they need to thrive.”

The event concluded with the presentation of awards to two ardent leaders supporting efforts to address childhood hunger, State Representative Toni Rose (TX-110) and Jotaka Eaddy. 

Working alongside No Kid Hungry Texas, a campaign of Share Our Strength, Rep. Rose was instrumental in securing critical funding in the state budget to eliminate the cost of reduced-price breakfast, ensuring 70,000 more Texas kids will receive nutritious meals each day.

“Everyone knows when a kid goes to school hungry they can’t focus,” said Rep. Rose at last week’s event. “And when they can’t focus, they can’t learn.”

Jotaka Eaddy has spent her career working with a diverse group of lawmakers, community organizations and local leaders to champion policies that lift up communities and fight systemic poverty.

On why the issue of poverty and hunger is so central for her, Eaddy said, “My ‘why’ is making sure that people who are pushed to the margins are put back into the center of this country so they have the dignity and the ability to live and thrive as we all should.”

For photos from the event click here.

The post RELEASE: Share Our Strength Honors Black Leaders on the Frontlines of Fighting Poverty appeared first on Share Our Strength.

Contact: Laura Washburn, lwashburn@strength.org or 202-649-4335

September 21, Washington, D.C. – Share Our Strength announced today the appointment of four new members to its board of directors and four new members to its No Kid Hungry Leadership Council. The national nonprofit organization is focused on ending childhood hunger in the United States through its award-winning No Kid Hungry campaign and addressing the root causes of hunger to create more financial security for families.

“These leaders bring decades of experience and are joining us at a crucial time as we expand beyond our No Kid Hungry campaign to address the root causes of hunger and poverty,” said Share Our Strength CEO Anne Filipic.

Newly appointed to the board of directors are:

• Winnie Lerner, Chief Executive Officer of FGS Global for North America
• Dr. Michael McAfee, President and CEO, PolicyLink
• Regina Montoya, CEO and Chair, Regina T. Montoya, PLLC and Executive Director, Tricolor Foundation
• Steve Narang, MD, MHCM, President, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus and President, Inova Pediatric Service Line

“Each of our new directors brings invaluable and unique perspectives to our work,” said Filipic. “Winnie as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies who builds big movements and communicates complex ideas, Michael as a passionate advocate for equity who is fiercely devoted to serving the nation’s most underserved populations, Regina as a pioneering attorney whose career has been dedicated to the advancement of the Hispanic community, and Steve as a pediatrician with first-hand understanding of the impact of hunger and poverty on health.”

Share Our Strength’s board of directors is a group of leaders from many fields who are responsible for helping set the direction of the organization and making sure the organization is fulfilling its mission. Board members meet regularly; raise funds and awareness; and contribute their many and varied strengths making Share Our Strength’s vision a reality.

The organization also appointed four new members to its No Kid Hungry Leadership Council, which provides strategic guidance and helps broaden its reach with corporations, foundations, individual donors, media, and policy makers to raise funds, build awareness, and advance programmatic work. Composed of passionate leaders from the corporate, philanthropic, media, culinary and policy sectors, the Leadership Council reflects the diversity of the No Kid Hungry movement.

Newly appointed to the No Kid Hungry Leadership Council are:

• Amanda Cohen, James Beard-nominated chef and owner of Dirt Candy
• Craig Rice, Vice President of Community Engagement, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington
• Abraham Shulman, Managing Director at Capstone Investment Advisors
• Matt Smith, Senior Director, PepsiCo Foundation

“Share Our Strength was built on the premise that everyone has a strength to share in the fight against hunger and poverty,” said acting Chief Revenue and Growth Officer Elliott Gaskins. “Our new Leadership Council members truly embody that spirit. They have each already made an impact on so many people’s lives. Now, as members of the council, we’re excited to see how they propel our mission forward.”

For full bios, please visit http://bit.ly/sosbios.

The post RELEASE: Share Our Strength Appoints New Members to its Board of Directors and Leadership Council appeared first on Share Our Strength.

Contact: Jessica Garon, jgaron@aphsa.org

WASHINGTON, DC — Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign will invest $3 million in four states to advance SNAP agency innovation and community coordination to promote equity and combat hunger. Each project will be carried out over a 24-month grant period in partnership with the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA).

This investment builds on the success of a 2021 partnership with APHSA’s first Coordinating SNAP and Nutrition Supports (CSNS) cohort, which sought to align the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, with other federal, state and local nutrition supports to combat childhood hunger. 

Share Our Strength and APHSA will draw on lessons learned, experiences and relationships built during the first cohort to assist new sites throughout the planning, implementation and evaluation of projects in this second round of funding.

“SNAP remains a highly effective tool to feed kids and as we look for ways to strengthen and improve it, finding opportunities to align the program with other nutrition supports is more important than ever,” says Jillien Meier, Managing Director of the No Kid Hungry campaign. “We’re excited by what we learned from the first round of grantees and look forward to partnering with APHSA to grow this work so more kids and families can get the food they need to thrive.”

The first cohort of CSNS sites demonstrated the need for a sharpened focus on supporting community-driven government to advance equity priorities across agencies and sectors. As a result, for the second cohort of sites, both agencies and community organizations will hold an equal stake in projects, co-creating unique solutions to fit the needs of their communities. 

To further embed human-centered design and community voice, this grant is guided by APHSA’s Community Impact Council —a group of six individuals with lived expertise navigating the benefits system. The Community Impact Council evaluated proposals through a customer-centered lens, complementing APHSA and Share Our Strength’s proposal reviews. The Community Impact Council’s diverse personal and professional experiences led to the selection of proposals that demonstrate promise to deepen the impact of SNAP and connected nutrition supports in joint partnership with trusted community partners. The members of this council will continue to serve as consultants, advising the administration of this grant.

Throughout the 24-month grant period, selected sites will leverage real time data, couple language justice with cultural humility and innovate the delivery of services to meet participants where they are with the goal of increasing access to SNAP and connected nutrition supports. The selected sites will also participate in cohort learning, sharing best practices and opportunities for policy and practice changes that promote equity and reduce hunger. 

“Our CSNS partnership with Share Our Strength is a game changer that is moving words into action to reengineer the way we deliver benefits within the human services sector,” says Matt Lyons, Senior Director of Policy and Practice at APHSA. “Designing solutions together with community advances equity and shifts culture within the public sector while creating tangible, lasting value for children and families.”

The following grantees have been selected:

• Caroline County Department of Social Services and Caroline County Board of Education, Maryland
• Illinois Department of Human Services and the Greater Chicago Food Depository
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Well-Being and Meals4Families
• San Francisco Human Services Agency and the San Francisco Marin Food Bank 

Learn more about the funded projects below. 

• Caroline County Department of Social Services and Caroline County Board of Education will provide a coordinated approach to supporting resource connections for residents of two high poverty under-resourced geographic areas in the county to enroll eligible residents into SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, as well as and other financial assistance programs to assist families with household stability.
• Illinois Department of Human Services and the Greater Chicago Food Depository will connect the data pathways between the Illinois Department of Human Services and Illinois State Board of Education to increase the number of children that receive SNAP benefits.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Well-Being and Meals4Families will provide family-centered SNAP enrollment support through community-based partnerships with schools, health systems, county DSS offices, and state agencies, empowered by novel statewide cross-enrollment data for Medicaid, SNAP and WIC.
• San Francisco Human Services Agency and the San Francisco Marin Food Bank will pilot a full service, mobile benefits office in communities most at risk of hunger and at locations where people already receive food support.

The post RELEASE: No Kid Hungry Invests $3 Million in Innovative SNAP Efforts in Four States appeared first on Share Our Strength.

[Media: For photos and assets, click HERE]

Contact: Allison deBrauwere, adebrauwere@strength.org

Washington, D.C. – A staggering number of parents are facing challenges providing meals for their children as costs soar due to the rise in food prices, according to new survey findings released today by No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger in America.

Among 3,000 parents of public-school children who responded to a survey conducted by Ipsos, 58% of middle-income and 68% of lower-income families reported it had become harder to afford enough food for their children over the last year. Ninety-three percent of parents with middle incomes and 87% of parents with lower incomes cited the rise in food prices as the reason for this struggle.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices rose 9.5% in February 2023 compared to February 2022. Although families with lower incomes have been hit hardest by rising food prices, food insecurity has become a pressing issue affecting more families with middle incomes across America. No Kid Hungry’s survey sheds light on the extent of this problem:

• Families with middle incomes who were surveyed are skipping meals to feed their children. 
  • One in 5 families with middle income reported that they or their children have skipped a meal in the last year due to rising food prices. 
  • Fifty-eight percent of parents with middle incomes reported it has become harder to afford food for their children, and of those, 95% reported struggling to afford enough food for their children at least monthly.
• Families with lower incomes who were surveyed have been hit the hardest.
  • Sixty-eight percent of parents with lower incomes reported that it has become more difficult to afford food in the past year. 
  • Seventy-four percent reported that, in addition to the cost of food itself, the rising costs of other necessities, such as utilities, gas, rent, and clothes contributed to the difficulty of affording enough food. 
• Many parents surveyed are an unexpected expense away from being able to afford enough food for their children.
  • Two in five families with lower incomes say an unexpected car repair or medical bill made it harder to afford enough food for their children. Among families with middle incomes, 50% reported the same.
• Surveyed parents are noticing a negative impact on their children’s well-being.
  • Forty-one percent of parents with lower incomes and 45% of middle-income parents noticed a negative change in their children’s mental health as a result of not having enough to eat.
  • Parents also reported noticing negative changes in their children’s physical health. This was true for 41% of parents with middle incomes and 35% of parents with lower incomes.
• The struggle to provide three nutritious meals a day for their children is also taking a toll on surveyed parents’ mental health and well-being.
  • Eighty-four percent of parents with lower incomes and 79% of parents with middle incomes said that when it comes to ensuring their children are eating three nutritious meals each day, at least one meal causes them stress and worry – for one in three that meal is dinner.
  • Further, 63% of parents with lower incomes and 61% of parents with middle incomes who have struggled to provide food in the last year reported a negative change in their mental health due to not having enough to eat.

“Families in America are hurting – all of us have a neighbor, a family member or friend who is living under the constant stress of being able to feed their children,” said Diana Hovey, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships of Share Our Strength, the organization behind the No Kid Hungry Campaign. No parent should have to make impossible decisions like skipping a meal so their children can eat or live an unexpected car repair away from being able to afford groceries. It doesn’t have to be this way, which is why we’re working to strengthen and expand nutrition programs that ensure every child in America has access to three meals a day”.

As families navigated the stress of providing meals for their children, the survey revealed that many participated in a food assistance program for the first time. This was the case for 62% of families with lower incomes and 45% for families with middle incomes.

“It kept me at ease that at least my kids are eating properly, as inflation rises it is getting harder for me to keep up”, expressed a middle-income father.

An in-depth look at the survey’s key findings can be viewed HERE.

No Kid Hungry works to ensure every child in the U.S. gets three meals a day, by improving access to federal nutrition programs, providing grants to schools and community organizations to connect kids with the healthy food they need to thrive and advocating for better laws and policies.

This spring, No Kid Hungry and its partners are working to raise awareness about the importance that all kids get three nutritious meals a day to reach their full potential. Through a combination of video storytelling and social content, the “Watch What Three Meals Can Do” digital-first campaign highlights what kids can accomplish when they have the nourishment they need.

To learn more and join in, visit nokidhungry.org/brandsthatgive and follow #3MealsADay on social. The “Watch What Three Meals Can Do” campaign is made possible by the support of partners like Arby’s Foundation, Kellogg’s, Marco’s Pizza, Chili’s®️ Grill, Athletic Greens and more.

The post RELEASE: New National Poll: Parents Surveyed with Middle Incomes Among Those Struggling to Feed Families appeared first on Share Our Strength.

Contact: Allison deBrauwere, adebrauwere@strength.org

WASHINGTON (Feb. 22, 2023) – Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger and poverty organization, has named Nefertiri Sickout as senior vice president of equity, diversity and inclusion. Sickout, who will report to the CEO, will be responsible for developing and executing an enterprise-wide strategy that builds on existing work and ensures EDI is woven into all of the organization’s work, including its award-winning No Kid Hungry campaign.

As part of Share Our Strength’s Executive Leadership Team, Sickout will refine and expand its systems, tools, policies and practices to better serve historically marginalized communities. She will also work with internal stakeholders to foster an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace for every team member.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Nefertiri into this role, which is vital to Share Our Strength’s mission, core values, and impact,” said Anne Filipic, chief executive officer at Share Our Strength. “As an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty in the U.S. and abroad, issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the forefront of the work we do, and a key component of that is strengthening representation, openness, and inclusivity of our internal workforce and culture. Nefertiri’s deep expertise and compassionate leadership will be key to our success.”

Sickout joins Share Our Strength following her most recent position serving as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the City of Philadelphia’s Office of the Mayor. She established racial equity as an explicit governing principle which guided how City departments and agencies assessed and improved their operations in service of all Philadelphians, especially shifting communities who have historically been at the margins to the center. She also supported the strategic efforts of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, and Office of Economic Opportunity.

“I am excited to join the Share Our Strength community; I have long admired the organization’s bold mission and groundbreaking work in support of children and families,” said Nefertiri Sickout, senior vice president of equity, diversity and inclusion at Share Our Strength. “In this role, I am honored to lead our collective efforts to further build and embody a truly equitable and inclusive organization in support of our critical mission.”

As a longstanding advocate of racial and social justice, Sickout brings deep expertise in advancing equitable outcomes for children and families as a community-based nonprofit leader and a former attorney at Pepper Hamilton LLP. Her educational background includes a law degree from Villanova University School of Law; an MA in developmental psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University; an MA in infant special education from George Washington University; and a BA in psychology from Clark Atlanta University. 

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WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, a nonpartisan coalition of more than 130 mayors working to ensure every child has the healthy food needed to thrive, announced its new Chair, Mayor John Giles of Mesa, AZ and Vice-Chair, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome of Baton Rouge, LA at an event in Washington, DC. 

“No community goes untouched by food insecurity, and every mayor has a role to play in addressing childhood hunger,” said Mayor Giles. “Mayors need to be chief food security officers in their communities. I’m honored to be appointed to the role of Chair for the Mayors Alliance and I look forward to continuing to work closely with my fellow mayors to make a difference on this issue.”

“Hunger is a solvable issue, a non-partisan issue and one of the most important investments we can make in our next generation,” said Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. “I look forward to working with Chair Mayor John Giles and more than 130 Mayors across the country on smart solutions to end hunger here in Baton Rouge and in every community across our nation.”

Mayor Giles, who first joined the Mayors Alliance as its Vice-Chair in its inaugural year in 2022, also joined a roundtable discussion with U.S. Representatives Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) on the impact of federal legislation like the Farm Bill on local communities and the role of state leaders in the implementation of the strategies from the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. Laura Carroll, Policy Advisor at the White House Domestic Policy Council also addressed the group, providing an update on the White House Conference strategy in the months following the convening. 

Reps. Thompson and McGovern spoke candidly about their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill and why local leadership plays an integral role.

“Some of the common ground I think we can find [on the Farm Bill] is on nutrition, health and wellbeing. It’s the right thing to do to help individuals and families achieve that status, but it also helps in the end in our communities, our states and our nation,” said Rep. Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, during today’s panel. “Mayors are well prepped to understand the bigger picture impacting families… I ask for mayors to be at the table. We welcome you. We want you. We need your voice.”

“My priority on the nutrition section [of the Farm Bill] is to make sure no one screws around with SNAP,” said Rep. McGovern. “I want to make sure we don’t cut the program.” 

“Sometimes the rhetoric in Washington doesn’t match the reality on the ground,” Rep. McGovern added, encouraging mayors to hold Congress accountable and to lift up the innovative work happening on the local level.

Mayor Eric Adams of New York City, NY also spoke to the group about the critical role mayors play in addressing child hunger in the U.S. 

“Food is the building block of a prosperous life. It depends on your mental health, your physical health, and your academic achievements,” said Mayor Adams. “This is so important what my colleagues are doing across America.”

In partnership with the nonprofit Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry campaign, the Mayors Alliance taps the leadership and collective expertise of more than 130 mayors from across the political spectrum in 45 states and the District of Columbia to drive change at the state and national level.

“Mayoral leadership is integral to the fight against childhood hunger,” said Lisa Davis, Senior Vice President at Share Our Strength. “They see first-hand the impact of this crisis in their communities and are uniquely positioned to creatively and successfully build awareness and drive solutions. I’m eager to see how this important work continues to develop this year under the leadership of Mayor Giles and Mayor Broome.”

This year, the Mayors Alliance will launch a Policy Council to lead the coalition’s public policy and advocacy work. It will also continue its work to elevate the issue of childhood hunger at the local and federal levels, partner with the Biden-Harris Administration on the implementation of the White House Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, and advocate for effective programs and solutions, especially those that were developed to serve families who were hardest hit during the pandemic. 

For more information about the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, please visit www.mayorshungeralliance.org. A recording of the event is available online.

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