Food Bank article: Providing Help and Hope for Children and Families
The June article from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina focuses on the increased need at the food bank in order to serve the nearly 321,000 children in the Food Bank's service area who rely on school meals.
Posted — UpdatedFor most children, summer break from school lasts 90 days. This is 90 days too long for the nearly 321,000 children in the Food Bank’s service area who rely on school meals. Fewer than 1 in 6 children have access to summer food programs, which means many of these children and their families will be worried about where their next meal is coming from rather than the fun activities of summer break.
President & Founder Twanna Joyner Jones sees the struggles of families they serve throughout the year – which includes worrying about food, where they will live, and why they don’t have the same clothes or shoes as other kids at school. “We’re not only providing a meal, but we’re trying to figure out what other basic needs the family has,” Jones related. “And we’re only able to do that around a meal. They open up and feel like it’s safe.”
“That’s our goal, the greatest combination you can give someone is help and hope. If I give people help without hope, I’ve failed and if I give them hope without help, I’ve failed. But when we bring the two together, we create something that is so magnificent for families.”
The Food Bank not only feeds those who are hungry; but also works to benefit community health. That’s why, in 2016, the Food Bank launched a Community Health & Engagement Department. With two nutritionists on staff, the Food Bank shares recipes, healthy tips, and other resources for partner agencies and neighbors in need. The on-site teaching kitchen in Raleigh offers cooking demonstrations and nutrition education to highlight easy, quick, and low-cost recipes using healthful foods like whole grains, fresh produce, low fat dairy, and lean meats.
Healthy Recipe Videos
Monthly Articles from the Food Bank
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina shares regular articles about nutrition and health education so we know what to look for when we head to the grocery store and plan our healthy meals. Following are some of the articles featured recently on the WRAL Smart Shopper page.
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