The Lunch Money Challenge provides an opportunity to expand community engagement to end childhood hunger in Ohio
COLUMBUS, OH (July 10, 2019) – Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA), a statewide nonprofit leading the fight to end childhood hunger in Ohio, revitalized their Lunch Money Challenge initiative to maximize the year-round fundraising effort to impact more children. Over 500,000 Ohio children struggle with food insecurity, meaning they do not know where their next meal will come from. To help bridge the hunger gap for children living in poverty, CHA initially created the Lunch Money Challenge as a call for the community to unite together and transform lunch money into meals for children in need. The national average Americans spend on lunch is $11.40 per day, which is enough to feed a hungry child a full day’s worth of meals.
“Nationally, Ohio ranks 14th highest in childhood food insecurity with 1 in 5 children not having adequate access to food. While the lunch money challenge was created many years ago, we saw an opportunity to expand our efforts and reach more community partners through an enhanced marketing campaign. We’re asking organizations, big and small, as well as individuals to be part of the solution to help our children by committing to the challenge. By joining with us and donating your lunch money, you’re providing our youngest and most vulnerable citizens with one of their most basic needs, food, so they will have a chance for a better future,” said Judy Mobley, president and CEO of Children’s Hunger Alliance.
Children living with food insecurity face increased risks of long-term health conditions like obesity and are more likely to struggle academically. To help mitigate the impact of childhood hunger, CHA works alongside numerous partners across the state to help feed hungry children healthy meals in family childcare provider homes, childcare centers and in afterschool programs. Additionally, CHA helps increase access to school breakfast and summer meals for thousands of children.
The relaunch of the year-round fundraising effort includes a new website, lunchmoneychallenge.org, containing information about the issue of childhood hunger statewide and details about signing up to take the challenge. Once a company commits to taking the challenge, they will receive a co-branded lunchbox filled with print and digital marketing tools and best practice guidelines for executing a successful lunch money challenge, all to help raise much needed funds to feed Ohio’s underserved children. Interested organizations can also email development@childrenshungeralliance.org for assistance.
###
About Children’s Hunger Alliance
Founded in 1970, Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio. Through their work, Children’s Hunger Alliance provides healthy meals to hungry children, advocates for the welfare of Ohio’s youngest citizens and teaches nutrition and physical education to those they serve.
For more information, go to childrenshungeralliance.org or lunchmoneychallenge.org
www.facebook.com/chaohio
www.instagram.com/childrenshungeralliance
www.twitter.com/chaohio