Contact: Johanna Elsemore at jelsemore@strength.org
“This funding will help ensure that every child has access to the food they need to grow and thrive,” says Caron Gremont, Director, Early Childhood, No Kid Hungry.
Washington, DC: Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign will invest $3 million in grants to organizations focused on early childhood, including 8 community organizations, child care providers and healthcare centers in Florida. The grants are part of an ongoing effort to decrease food insecurity among children under the age of six.
At the height of the pandemic, 22.9 percent of parents with children under the age of six faced hunger and hardship in the previous month. As early childhood is the most intensive period of brain and body development, hunger and hardship at this age can have long-term implications for children.
“Food insecurity in the early years can have an immediate and lasting impact on overall health, learning, school readiness, and behavior,” says Caron Gremont, Director of Early Childhood for the No Kid Hungry campaign. “These flexible, year-long grants will help organizations provide healthy food to young kids and their families at this critical time.”
The No Kid Hungry grants will serve more than 120 early child care centers, healthcare providers and community organizations that work with an estimated 170,000 children under the age of five in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
“Not only are these organizations on the front lines of hunger, most are also led by members of the community. These local leaders have a deep understanding of the families they serve and an authentic connection to the unique needs of their towns and neighborhoods,” says No Kid Hungry Florida Director Sky Beard. “This funding will help fuel their work and make sure our youngest Floridians have access to the food they need to grow and thrive.”
The following organizations in Florida received grants:
- Mid Florida Community Services Head Start Early Head Start (Brooksville)
- Caribbean Community Connection of Orlando, Inc. (Winter Park)
- Early Learning Coalition of Duval (Jacksonville)
- Mitchell Learning Academy (Jacksonville)
- Family Support Services of North Florida, Inc. (Jacksonville)
- Autumn Leaf Academy (Plant City)
- Three Virtues Organization, Inc. (Miami Dade)
- Hands Together for Haitians, Inc. (Palm Beach)