Joy in a Sack

I volunteer as a tutor with the Each One, Reach One program and noticed that many of the children coming to the program were coming on an empty stomach. I researched and talked to their parents and learned that by the middle of the month, there was no money left for grocery. Hunger has emerged as one of the most serious and complex health problems facing the nation today. Chronic hunger and malnutrition take a grave toll on children's lives: days missed from school, inattentiveness in class, stunted growth, and frequent illness detract from the education of hungry children and jeopardize their future. I wanted to help with this transition because I didn't want any more children to be hungry. I asked parents to submit an essay on their struggles and to submit a budget. If selected, the parents would be have to attend a budgeting class, a nutrition class, and be willing to allow their children to help cut out coupons so they can stretch their grocery budget even further. After that, they are given complimentary grocery gift cards for grocery shopping. This program has been awesome!