CFK Reports From: Release of the Ten Point Plan To End Childhood Hunger In The Nation's Capital
Event: Press Conference
Organized By: DC Hunger Solutions, The Food Research and Action Center, and Share Our Strength
Where/When: Kennedy Recreational Center; April 18, 2006

Report by: Roshin Mathew

Listen to the audio version of this field report.

Robert Egger, of the DC Central Kitchen, talkes with two students, from Little Flower Montessori School, before the End Childhood Hunger in the Nation's Capital press conference

Hunger advocates, politicians, students, teachers, parents and bureaucrats from Washington D.C. gathered to witness the public presentation of the city's plan to end childhood hunger in the nation's capital. Kim Perry, founding Director of D.C. Hunger Solutions, kicked of the event by questioning the crowd, "Guess what?" She answered her own question, "We are going to end childhood hunger in D.C."

How? "First, we must believe that we can do it. Second, we will ensure three meals a day: at home, at school, and around the community," says Perry.

In Washington, D.C., an estimated 35,000 children have no idea whether they will get dinner after school, today. These children go hungry on most days because their parents or caregivers lack the resources, access, and information to provide nutritious meals for their children. Perry assured the crowd that there is hope: "This is not pie in the sky—its real." By investing 1.4 million dollars into organizations, schools, and families to take advantage of existing federal programs, the city will garner 14 million dollars from the federal government to achieve the goal.

Bill Shore, Founder and Director of Share Our Strength, agreed with Perry that it is feasible to end childhood hunger in Washington D.C. Shore began his speech by quoting Johnathan Kozol, author of Savage Inequalities: "We should pick battles that are big enough to matter, but small enough to win." Shore continued, "Childhood hunger in DC is big enough to matter, but small enough to win."

If the battle is won in DC, both Shore and Jim Weill of the Food Research and Action Center want to see the plan replicated in other cities across the nations. Weill hopes "to come up with local plans that meet local needs which achieve the same goal of ending childhood hunger."

Mayor Anthony Williams told the audience that "the bottom line is this: low-income children have not gotten enough healthy food on a regular basis." And Pastor Christine Riley, of Covenant Baptist Church in Ward 8, agreed with the mayor. She pointed out that 98% of the children in her ward are eligible for federally subsidized meals. Pastor Riley, for one, expressed joy to know that the city developed a "real plan to end childhood hunger."

Learn more about the Ten Point Plan To End Childhood Hunger In The Nation's Capital.

Food Research Action Center's School Wellness Policy and Practice: Meeting the Needs of Low-Income Students.