For many of Arizona’s children, their school’s breakfast and lunch program is their primary source of meals. And in a difficult economy, those numbers – and the impact of childhood hunger – continues to grow.
- In Arizona, 20.2% of children under 18 are food insecure, the fifth highest rate in the country. (Association of Arizona Food Banks)
- In Texas, 24.3% of children under 18 are food insecure. (Feeding America)
- Arizona and Texas rank among the top 5 states with food insecure children under the age of 18. (Feeding America)
- According to the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project, hungry children suffer from two to four times as many individual health problems, such as unwanted weight loss, fatigue, headaches, irritability, inability to concentrate and frequent colds, as low-income children whose families do not experience food shortages.
- Food insecurity in both early childhood and the school years means that children lag their peers and learn less, and these learning deficits cumulate. School-age children who are food insecure are more likely to be absent from school, be hyperactive; behave poorly; be held back; do worse on tests; and be placed in special education. (Food Research and Action Center)
- 15.5 million or approximately 20.7 percent of children in the U.S. live in poverty. (Feeding America)
- During the 2009 federal fiscal year, 19.5 million low-income children received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Unfortunately, just 2.2 million of these same income-eligible children participated in the Summer Food Service Program that same year. (Feeding America)
The Hope!
Children who are part of backpack programs such as Kitchen on the Street have increased school test score performance by as much as 23% in math and 30% in reading. Absenteeism and behavioral issues decreased by up to 40% after their first year of participation. (Backpack Buddies, Bowie, Texas)
With your help, Kitchen on the Street is meeting the need and providing hope to hungry children! Our mission is simple. Kitchen on the Street exists to turn hunger into hope… one child at a time. As a volunteer driven agency, we accomplish this mission through partnerships with local Valley schools, providing child-friendly meals to children who would otherwise go without. The meals provide nutrition for the body and food for the soul!
Partner Schools
Want Kitchen on the Street at your school? Download this form to get started.
