Sometimes, It Takes a Community to Feed a Child

Look, I realize that New Jersey isn't perfect -- I've got 4 kids attending 4 different schools, this year...trust me, I know --  and I recently published A Letter to the Next President of The United States on my personal blog, lamenting over the rising cost of...well, everything.

For the first time in 14 years, my husband and I are seriously trying to cut back - we don't buy each other gifts, or go out on mommy and daddy play dates, anymore - but, rationing our meat consumption, in an effort to stretch our meals, is perhaps the toughest pill to swallow.

Especially, now that school has started and my kids are looking to pack their lunch bags with something other than peanut butter.

It's days like today -- when the only protein-enriched food we have in the house happens to be, you know, peanut butter -- I try to remember that everyone's feeling the crunch.  If you can get a school lunch for $3.00 anywhere in New Jersey...well, you've pretty much hit gold and, unfortunately, many children rely on free or reduced price lunches throughout the week, but often go hungry at home.

Going through my kids backpacks - don't you just love the first day of school - I came across the application for the lunch program and was shocked to learn that our family is only a few paychecks away from relying on our community, for help.

As a mother, I can imagine the pain parents must go through when they just don't have enough food to feed their children.  The thought of one more child having to go hungry, right here in Jersey, compels me to tell you (my friends and neighbors) about the programs available at the food bank that are totally dependent on the generosity of donors.

The Community Food Bank of New Jersey objective is very simple:

"....to improve the lives of children and break the cycle of poverty by providing classroom supplies, new clothing and nutritious, kid-friendly food."

The Kids' Backpack Program provides backpacks filled with supplemental nutritious, kid-friendly food to children.  Food packages are delivered weekly to participating schools where staff members distribute them in backpacks.

Items for the Kids' Backpack Program (as well as the backpacks, themselves) are either donated, or purchased at heavily discounted rates.

The items most needed (to date) are single servings/individual containers of:

• Peanut  butter/jelly mix
• Stew/soup  (pop top can)
• Heat  & eat entrees (pop-top can)
• 100%  Fruit juice boxes
• 1%  Shelf stable milk (white & chocolate)
• Fruit  cups
• Applesauce  cups
• New backpacks also needed!

It only takes is $14.00 to sponsor 1 child, for 1 month and all you have to do is register for the Kids' Backpack Program.

So, why should you care?

September is Hunger Action Month and...well, I believe that sometimes it really does take a community to feed a child.

Who knows -- considering how our economy has been going South, lately -- tomorrow, it could be worse and we all just may be this much closer to going hungry.

Click here for more mighty find links on education and advocacy.

Original New Jersey Moms Blog post, Liz is a SAHM (an oxymoron, really) a columnist for the Imperfect Parent and also writes (in UPPERCASE) at thisfullhouse.com.