Cook County children are running on empty
A new study released last month by the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Social IMPACT Research Center of Heartland Alliance reports that 54 percent of children were food insecure and 45 percent had missed a main meal in the previous 24 hours. The study, Running on Empty: Nutritional Access for Children in Cook County (PDF), is the first of its kind and will inform Food Depository decisions about the expansion and enhancement of child nutrition programs. The Food Depository provides meals to children through more than 50 after-school Kids Cafes and through take-home bags of food at more than 40 schools in Cook County.
Federal child nutrition programs are critical tools in the fight against hunger. Nutritious meals are available for children during school hours, but when the school day ends, too many low‐income children do not have access to meals after school, in the summer and on the weekends. As Congress begins work on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization in the coming year, help ensure changes are made to strengthen and increase access to child nutrition programs.
Take action by urging your members of Congress to support the expansion and improvement of federal child nutrition programs, please visit our Advocacy Center.
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