{"id":11907,"date":"2021-04-07T00:06:16","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T00:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/florida\/?p=11907"},"modified":"2021-08-05T00:07:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T00:07:06","slug":"press-release-no-kid-hungry-invests-3-million-in-early-childhood-organizations-eight-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/florida\/2021\/04\/07\/press-release-no-kid-hungry-invests-3-million-in-early-childhood-organizations-eight-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Release: No Kid Hungry Invests $3 Million in Early Childhood Organizations, Eight in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contact:\u00a0Johanna Elsemore at jelsemore@strength.org<\/p>\n

\u201cThis funding will help ensure that every child has access to the food they need to grow and thrive,\u201d says Caron Gremont, Director, Early Childhood, No Kid Hungry.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Washington, DC<\/strong>: Share Our Strength\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cFood insecurity in the early years can have an immediate and lasting impact on overall health, learning, school readiness, and behavior,\u201d says Caron Gremont, Director of Early Childhood for the No Kid Hungry campaign. \u201cThese flexible, year-long grants will help organizations provide healthy food to young kids and their families at this critical time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot 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,\u201d says No Kid Hungry Florida Director Sky Beard. \u201cThis funding will help fuel their work and make sure our youngest Floridians have access to the food they need to grow and thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following organizations in Florida received grants:<\/p>\n