No Kid Hungry Invests $3M In Childhood Organizations, 4 In AZ

Press release from No Kid Hungry:

April 9, 2021

No Kid Hungry announced $3 million in grants to organizations focused on early childhood to help decrease food insecurity among children under the age of six.

The grants will serve more than 120 early child care centers, healthcare providers and community organizations across 34 states + DC, reaching 170,000 children, with 4 out of 5 working primarily in communities of color.

Grantees in Arizona include:

• Child Parent Centers, Head Start, Tucson
• International Rescue Committee, Tucson
• Phoenix Dream Center, Phoenix
• The Salvation Army, A California Corp., Phoenix

At one point during the past year, 40 percent of parents of kids under six reported job or income loss related to the coronavirus pandemic. More than one in five parents reported food insecurity in their household. Early childhood is the most intensive period of brain and body development, and 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.”

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 Gremont. “We are excited to help fuel their work and make sure more children have the food they need to grow and thrive.”

This press release was produced by No Kid Hungry. The views expressed here are the author's own.