Community Cares welcomes this week's guest blogger, Diane Serratore, Executive Director of People to People.
It’s a fact. Hungry kids can’t learn. And kids who have difficulty learning will have difficulty being successful in school. Kids who are not successful in school are more likely to be unsuccessful in life.
That’s why People to People -- Rockland’s Food Pantry – is stepping up its efforts to provide struggling families with what they need to help their kids begin the day with a nutritious breakfast.
Yes, there are vital federal- and state-funded programs that provide subsidized breakfast and lunch to children from low-income households. Too often, though, kids are too embarrassed to be seen participating in them.
People to People is not alone in focusing efforts on providing nutritious breakfasts to at-risk kids.
Kellogg’s recently kicked off its “Share Your Breakfast” promotion with ads and coupons. For every coupon redeemed, Kellogg’s will donate funds (up to $200,000) to Action for Healthy Kids. Kellogg’s has also established National Breakfast Week to be held March 4 to 10, 2013. Though People to People is not affiliated with Kellogg’s or Action for Healthy Kids (its only New York state affiliate is in New York City), People to People enthusiastically supports efforts to provide children from low-income families with nutritious breakfasts.
That’s why People to People is launching Rockland County Healthy Breakfast Week to be held March 4 to 10, 2013 to coincide with Kellogg’s national awareness initiative.
The People to People Healthy Breakfast Week can be supported in many ways:
- Churches, libraries, firehouses, village and town halls can place collection boxes in entranceways.
- Civic and youth organizations (Rotary Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) can organize food drives at area supermarkets.
- Community organizations can hold Pancake Breakfasts or other events to raise funds for PtoP to purchase nutritious breakfast foods.
- Individuals can use Kellogg’s coupons to purchase breakfast cereals and then donate those items to PtoP.
In addition, financial contributions to support Healthy Breakfast Week can be made directly to People to People (via its website at www.peopletopeopleinc.org) or by calling Swati Shah, Finance Director, at 845-623-4900, ext. 210.
One in five Rockland children lives in poverty. One in five kids in our nation goes without breakfast every day. How many more times are we going to hear that “our children are our future” before we do something about assuring that our children don’t start the day hungry? If not now, when?
About the Community Cares Blog and the Rockland Community Foundation
The Community Cares Blog, hosted by the Rockland Community Foundation, celebrates the spirit of giving in our community. Each week, we will post a story of philanthropy or shine a spotlight on an activity that is making a difference in the lives of our neighbors. We invite Rockland non-profits, individuals and businesses to contribute to the Community Cares blog by sending an email to info@rocklandgives.org.
As the umbrella charitable organization for the county, the Rockland Community Foundation is working to connect donors with the causes they care about most. Our grants support a wide range of interests and, with the support of Rockland residents and businesses, we are committed a path of growth that will enable us to help the non-profit community continue their vital work. You can learn more by visiting us at http://www.rocklandgives.org.
