National Group Fighting Child Hunger Honors Rockland Resident

NYACK, NY — A Rockland resident is one of five community heroes honored nationally by No Kid Hungry, a child food insecurity advocacy group, for their work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nakisha Carter, who works for the Rockland Board of Cooperative Education Services, coordinated volunteers for hundreds of hours to provide meals for families with children with disabilities.

Carter told Patch she was "beyond excited" — not for herself but "to bring more attention to this very important food program."

"We help so many families every single week," she said. "Bringing more attention to the program will translate into receiving more funding to help sustain this vital resource for our community."

Carter's efforts helped to double the number of families served and increased food distribution by more than 600 percent, ensuring nutrition and safety for vulnerable kids, said officials at No Kid Hungry.

Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of children rely on school and community meals to remain nourished, they said. Behind these meals are the foodservice professionals and educators like Carter who work tirelessly, often unseen, to provide food to kids in their communities.

Carter said she loved working with the students at Rockland BOCES.

"I like that I can set an example and show them that being part of a community and helping people is important. I can instill values and play a positive role in helping to build their character," she said. "It is really a 'feel good' job and I feel good at the end of my day knowing that I have helped someone. Children have fresh minds and are very creative. Viewing life from their lens is exciting! I learn a lot from them!"

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, No Kid Hungry New York is working to launch and improve programs that give children the healthy food they need to thrive. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.

"I feel that this national recognition will help to raise more awareness to the fact that there is a real hunger crisis in this country," Carter told Patch. "I want this recognition to spark and encourage more groups and organizations to start food programs within their communities."

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.