Meal kit provider HelloFresh and No Kid Hungry, a campaign focused on ending childhood hunger, have announced new research from U.S. teachers and a “No Breaks for Hunger” campaign to raise awareness of and help address student hunger, especially during school breaks.
For many kids across the U.S., March and April mark spring break. For many kids who rely on in-school meals, however, school breaks are characterized by worry over where their next meal is coming from. This issue is particularly urgent for the nearly 14 million kids who live in households facing food insecurity, meaning they do not have access to enough food for every family member to lead a healthy life, according to a news release.
Teachers are on the front lines of the fight against childhood hunger, helping students get access to food and referring families to resources, the release said. They often witness the effects of hunger on students, such as difficulty concentrating and lower academic performance. Recognizing that K-12 teachers have unique insights into the issue of childhood hunger, HelloFresh said it commissioned Hunger Matters for Students, a nationally representative survey of American teachers.
Key findings include:
- Teachers regularly see kids come to school hungry — Nearly 8 in 10 (78%) teachers said they are concerned about food insecurity in the communities where they teach. And 3 in 5 teachers (61%) reported knowing firsthand that their students are experiencing hunger, with more than half (54%) seeing kids come to school hungry a few times a week or more.
- Many teachers worry about their students’ ability to access nutritious meals when they are not in school — Almost 9 out of 10 teachers (89%) said they are concerned about students generally having enough to eat during school breaks. Nearly three-quarters (74%) said they worry about their student’s ability to access nutritious meals specifically during school breaks.
- Most teachers have personally taken action to address student hunger — Almost all (92%) of teachers said they have taken steps to address the problem of their students’ hunger. Almost half (49%) reported personally providing students with food in the classroom, and more than one-quarter (29%) said they have bought food for students to eat outside of the classroom. Among these teachers, 78% said they have spent up to $100 per month of their own money.
- The majority of teachers would like action to be taken — 85% of teachers agreed they would like to see more done about the current state of hunger for K-12 students.
”With the rising cost of everyday essentials, like rent and food, it’s evident that many families are struggling — and that means their kids are too,” said Jeffrey Yorzyk, senior director of sustainability for HelloFresh. “These troubling insights from America’s teachers make one thing clear: It’s time to act with urgency. That’s why we’re proud to continue our partnership with No Kid Hungry to address this serious and growing issue and do our part to help kids to thrive in school and at home.”
This spring break, HelloFresh said it is taking action to support teachers who are helping their hungry students and to ease the burden placed on these students’ families during school breaks. In partnership with local nonprofits and public school districts, HelloFresh will support students and families with free meal kits featuring wholesome, family-friendly recipes ahead of spring break in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Newark, N.J.; and Buckeye, Ariz., the release said.
HelloFresh said it is encouraging families nationwide to apply for LimeAid grants, which offer 12 weeks of free meal kits. Because teachers see the impact of hunger firsthand, HelloFresh also is calling on educators to nominate students’ families in need and, in turn, enter for a chance to win a gift card for classroom supplies and resources.
“Teachers are sounding the alarm; the current state of child hunger is unacceptable,” said Allison Shuffield, managing director of corporate partnerships for Share Our Strength, the organization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. “These findings really show the extent of the child hunger crisis in America and how it’s keeping kids from reaching their full potential. With the support of partners like HelloFresh, we are committed to working across sectors to strengthen and protect programs that ensure kids get the nutrition they need all year round.”
Last year, HelloFresh and No Kid Hungry worked together to address the summer hunger gap through the 13 for 13 Million campaign, an effort to raise awareness of the issue and provide critical support to parents and families in need. With the help of trusted partners, HelloFresh hosted distribution events and pop-up pantries in 13 regions across the country and pointed families to critical resources, like summer EBT benefits, the release said.
Related link: More about the HelloFresh and No Kid Hungry initiative
