Kent-based World Relief Western Washington received a $25,000 grant from Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign.
The funds will used to increase the case management capacity and assist newly arrived refugee and immigrant families with young children to successfully enroll in WIC and SNAP programs, according to a July 25 Share Our Strength press release. The monies also will provide families with gift cards to grocery stores with culturally appropriate food as a stop gap measure before receiving benefits.
Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign, based in Washington, D.C., will invest nearly $620,000 in organizations that are focused on early childhood as part of an effort to decrease food insecurity among children under the age of 5.
Early childhood is the most intensive period of development for a child’s brain and body, according to the press release. As such, hunger and hardship during this period has long-term implications for a child. Community organizations, early childcare centers and health care providers play a key role in ensuring young children receive access to nutritious food they need to learn, grow, and thrive to reach their full potential
“Food insecurity in the early years can have an immediate and lasting impact on overall health, learning, school readiness and behavior,” said Raven King-Edwards, senior program manager for No Kid Hungry. “These flexible grants will allow community-based organizations, early child care centers and health care providers across the country respond to the growing needs and emerging opportunities to provide healthy food to young children.”
The No Kid Hungry grants will serve more than 25 early child care centers, health care providers and community organizations. These organizations work with an estimated 18,000 young children in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
“These organizations, on the front lines of hunger, are led by local leaders who have a deep understanding of the families and communities they serve,” says King-Edwards. “We’re proud to support these organizations and their work.”
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