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Educate Kids About Hunger

Raise Awareness Early and Make a Difference

Hunger affects thousands of children across Middle and West Tennessee. An important part of expanding equitable access to food and resources is raising awareness. Educating your children or students about hunger and how they can help their peers facing food insecurity is a great place to start.

Explore our resources below to see how you can equip the next generation to work toward a brighter future for everyone.

Resources for Parents and Educators

Hunger impacts the lives of 1 in 6 children in the U.S. Chances are this includes kids at your child’s school and in your own community. You can help educate children on the impact of hunger, help them foster empathy for peers experiencing food insecurity, and inspire them to take action!

Below are many recommended resources and practices designed to help you talk to the kids in your life about hunger and how they can help.

Meet Miles

Books

With a garden abundant with produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen, and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and looking out for one another.

When Lulu’s mother’s van breaks down, money for food becomes tight and the Hunger Monster comes into their lives. Only visible to Lulu, Hunger Monster is a troublemaker who makes it hard for her to concentrate in school. How will Lulu help her mom and defeat the Monster?

Best friends Sofia and Maddi live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play in the same park, but while Sofia’s fridge at home is full of nutritious food, the fridge at Maddi’s house is empty. This book includes a call-to-action section with six ways for kids to help fight hunger.

Kid-Friendly Sustainability

Teaching children about food sustainability is crucial for ensuring the next generation understands the significance of reducing waste, which helps guarantee everyone has access to the food they need to thrive. Additionally, it fosters an awareness of environmental stewardship and the value of eating nutritious foods. Here are some ways you can teach your kids about sustainability:

  • Composting - Start composting your food scraps at your home to minimize waste and help the environment. A great resource to explore is the Compost Company, with whom you can schedule compost pickup services or drop-off your compost!
  • Gardening - Start a small garden with your kids and teach them how to tend it and harvest it! You can even share the produce with people in your community. Find resources about getting kids started gardening at your local library or through Kids Gardening.

Teach mindful grocery shopping - Model for your children how to only buy what your family will eat and minimize the food you throw away. Eat leftovers and repurpose any extra food you might have wherever possible. You can find additional practical tips for different age groups on the EPA website!

Volunteer with Your Family

Second Harvest loves to have families volunteer together with us! We have many opportunities for children and youth to serve throughout the year:

We offer weekly kid-friendly volunteer opportunities for ages 6+ during the school year at our Martin Distribution Center:

  • Thursday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
  • Saturday, 9:00am – 11:00am
Youth aged 12+ can also volunteer for food sorting, and ages 16+ can participate in cold food sorting during these times at our Martin Distribution Center:
  • Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am – 11:30am and 1:30pm – 4:00pm
  • Tuesday through Thursday, 5:30pm – 8:00pm

Find more opportunities to volunteer in our Volunteer FAQ.

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