For one week each February we collect goods to support CHIPS our neighborhood’s soup kitchen. Help promote this event, receive and box up donations, carry and load donations in cars and deliver to local drop-off location. Co-Chairs: Jessica Pallay, Janna Berke and Robert Swigert
In addition to donating to our food drive, here’s some information to help families discuss food justice & food insecurity, and encourage them to connect to the cause.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a household or can last a long time. Food insecurity is one way we can measure how many people cannot afford food. (Source: Feeding America)
1 in 4 NYC children experience food insecurity. That’s more than 462,000 children. (Source: City Harvest)
About CHIPS:
CHIPS’ Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen prepares hot, nutritious meals for 150 hungry New Yorkers daily. Their model drives awareness and access to nutritious foods while cultivating resilience and equity through free-of-charge food distribution program and housing.
How to Get Your Kids Involved:
Activities to try:
- Write a persuasive letter to someone about why they should participate in the Food Drive
- Make a video about food insecurity and why it’s so important to help
- Create a weekly meal plan for your own family and come up with a shopping list for that meal plan; go shopping together for the non-perishable items to donate to the food drive
- Have a conversation about what makes a healthy, balanced meal and why it’s important for all kids
- Make an idea wall of ways to help kids who are hungry
- Come up with math problems using “food facts”
- $25 provides 6 hot meals
- $50 provides 12 hot meals
- $100 can feed an adult for 3 weeks
Books & Articles to read/share:
- Maddie’s Fridge (YouTube Read Aloud)
- Video of kids talking about how to help with kids’ food insecurity
Other educational resources:
Background Facts on Food Insecurity:
