By: Suzanne Tormollen
Children perform better in school, are healthier, and are more successful in life when they have adequate nutrition, yet the fact is that hundreds of families – thousands of children – right here in our county are considered food insecure. Worrying about food running out before having the money to buy more, relying on low-cost food options to feed children, and cutting or skipping meals is a scary reality for many.
Lack of access to food makes communities vulnerable to adversity. Racial and ethnic minorities and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by food insecurity and have difficulty accessing nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate, and quality food options. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made the situation worse.
To ensure a better future for Orange County kids, TABLE provides healthy, emergency food assistance to children in our community and has been since 2008. In that time, we have successfully delivered over 200,000 bags of healthy non-perishables and fresh produce.
Through our TABLE@Home program, we deliver bags of nutritious food year-round directly to kids’ homes to ensure they have equal access to high quality food and avoid hunger whether they are in school or remote learning. In the same way that tutoring is a tool for success, so is food assistance.
“I’ve been playing sports since I was a young kid. I understand the importance of eating healthy and getting enough food to make those big plays not only on the field but also in the classroom.” -UNC Football Quarterback Sam Howell
TABLE staff, volunteers, and donors are committed to having a positive impact on children living in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and neighboring Orange County. Through the care we put into packaging and delivering nutritious food, we hope to impact the lives of our participating kids by helping them grow, learn, and thrive.
Howell says, “TABLE has made such an impact in the lives of children living in the Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County communities. I’m so happy I am in a position where I can help further promote their mission and support feeding kids as they return to school this year.”
September is Hunger Action Month, and Today is Hunger Action Day. How Can You Make An Impact?
As kids return to school, we can’t forget that 15% of those under the age of 18 in Orange County are food insecure and in North Carolina, 20% of kids struggle with hunger.
By spreading awareness and taking action to make food a certainty and not a choice, we can cultivate food-aware communities and increase access to healthy foods.
Could your family utilize additional food each week to support the success of your children? If so, you can sign up for our food delivery program at https://tablenc.org/request-food
If you or your family are in a position to support others, you can help us continue to help kids succeed this school year by volunteering to pack and deliver bags of food or by donating funds to help feed children!
Every $20 you give provides 10 meals and snacks for one child. Or, by giving $300, you can feed one child for the first half of the school year!
We thank you for your generosity and dedication to fight hunger and support children in need.
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