Nonprofit provides food, essentials to military families as part of ongoing effort
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2022 / As we honor the sacrifices of military servicemen and women this Veteran's Day, more than 160,000 active-duty military families are struggling to put food on the table for their children. Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, is working with partners across the country to reach these brave Americans by delivering nonperishable food, household essentials, and additional supplies to veterans and active-duty servicemen and women.
Just this week, the nonprofit teamed up with Operation Honor, Tyson Foods, Caregivers on the Homefront, the Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors and Russell Stover Chocolates to serve the families of 400 active-duty and retired members of the military as well as first responders.
This event is one of dozens the nonprofit has held throughout the year. This year alone, Feed the Children has distributed more than 340,000 pounds of product valued at more than $3.9 million to servicemembers and first responders through their Military Family Fund.
Despite their commitment to serving our country with honor, many junior military families are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Not only are they worried about their loved ones being deployed, but they are also facing rising childcare costs as well as higher food and gas prices.
The families of many military service members struggle with hunger because of financial hardship. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS) showed that working-age veterans have a 7.4 percent greater risk of experiencing food insecurity than non-veterans.
A recent study conducted by Feed the Children's partner, Blue Star Families, found that a variety of barriers make employment difficult for the spouses of active-duty service members, and many times they may be unemployed or underemployed despite having obtained a college degree.
In fact, 20 percent of military spouses are unemployed and actively seeking work. An additional 63 percent of military spouses are underemployed. The report found a combination of issues keep these spouses from holding jobs. Nearly half of them said they would be looking for a new job in the next year and of those, a third of the spouses said it was because their family will be relocating due to receiving new orders.
For military spouses like Dana who is expecting her second child, the food and essentials provided by Feed the Children mean one less thing her family has to worry about.
"Inflation is a real thing right now, so this really helps, especially with me getting ready to have two children on my hands," she said. "Everything has gone up in price and the grocery stores have a shortage right now."
During a Feed the Children distribution event, Dana not only received food and household essentials, but also diapers, books and toys for her young son.
"This is going to help my son," she said. "He's going to get to play with toys, he's going to have diapers. I worry about running out."
By working through its network of community partners in the U.S., Feed the Children's Military Family Fund is providing support to thousands of military families across the country. The nonprofit is increasing outreach and support to serve more communities near military bases by delivering resources to help families.
Feed the Children supporters Joe and Cathi Maynard know all too well what many military families can go through when money is tight.
"We remember early days in our military careers and the help people provided for us," Joe said.
"We remember, two days before payday, deciding if you've got to pay bills or buy food instead. It's tough when you're young and have children, especially."
Individuals and businesses can make a difference in the lives of our country's heroes by supporting Feed the Children. For more information or to learn how you can help, visit feedthechildren.org.
About Feed the Children
At Feed the Children, we feed hungry kids. We envision a world where no child goes to bed hungry. In the U.S. and internationally, we are dedicated to helping families and communities achieve stable lives and to reducing the need for help tomorrow, while providing food and resources to help them today. We distribute product donations from corporate donors to local community partners, we provide support for teachers and students, and we mobilize resources quickly to aid recovery efforts when natural disasters strike. Internationally, we manage child-focused community development programs in eight countries. We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships. Every dollar given goes nine times as far to provide food, hope, dignity and comfort.
For more information, visit feedthechildren.org.
For more information, please contact:
Carrie Snodgrass - 405-213-9757
[email protected]
SOURCE: Feed The Children