Through our No Breaks for Hunger campaign, we’re raising awareness for students facing food insecurity during school breaks.
“With the rising cost of everyday essentials, like rent and food, it’s evident that many families are struggling—and that means their kids are too. These troubling insights from America’s teachers make one thing clear: It’s time to act with urgency. That’s why we’re proud to continue our partnership with No Kid Hungry to address this serious and growing issue and do our part to help kids to thrive in school and at home.” – Jeffrey Yorzyk, senior director of sustainability at HelloFresh
For many kids and families across the US, spring break in March and April marks a time to have fun and relax. But for a staggering number of kids who rely on in-school meals, school breaks bring uncertainty and stress about where their next meal will come from. This issue is particularly urgent for the nearly 14 million kids who live in households facing food insecurity—where access to nutritious food for every family member is not guaranteed.
This spring break, HelloFresh and No Kid Hungry are launching No Breaks for Hunger, a campaign to raise awareness of the urgent issue of student hunger, particularly during school breaks. Together, we are taking action to support the teachers who are going above and beyond to ensure their students don’t go hungry.
Teachers and the Fight Against Childhood Hunger
Teachers are on the front lines of the fight against childhood hunger, witnessing daily how it impacts their students, from difficulty concentrating to lower academic performance. To better understand the challenges K-12 teachers face when it comes to childhood hunger, HelloFresh commissioned Hunger Matters for Students.
Through a nationwide survey, here’s what they found:
Nearly 14 million kids face food insecurity, and are unsure where their next meal will come from.
- Teachers regularly see kids come to school hungry: Nearly eight in 10 (78%) teachers said they were concerned about food insecurity in the communities where they teach. Three in five teachers (61%) know firsthand that their students are experiencing hunger, with more than half (54%) seeing kids come to school hungry a few times a week or more.
- Many teachers worry about their students’ ability to access nutritious meals when they are not in school: Nine out of 10 teachers (89%) are concerned about students generally having enough to eat during school breaks. And nearly three-quarters (74%) said that, during school breaks, they worry about their student’s ability to access nutritious meals specifically.
- Most teachers have personally taken action to address student hunger: Almost all (92%) of teachers have taken steps to address the problem of their students’ hunger. Almost half (49%) personally provide students with food in the classroom, and more than one-quarter (29%) have bought food for students to eat outside of the classroom. Among these teachers, 78% have spent up to $100 per month of their own money.
- The majority of teachers would like action to be taken: 85% of teachers agreed they would like to see more done about the current state of hunger for K-12 students.
Our Ongoing Commitment
In partnership with local nonprofits and public school districts, HelloFresh is making sure that families and students in Brooklyn, New York, Newark, New Jersey, and Buckeye, Arizona have access to free meal kits this spring break filled with wholesome, family-friendly recipes.
Last year, HelloFresh and No Kid Hungry worked together in a similar way to address the summer hunger gap through the 13 for 13 Million campaign, with the goal of raising awareness and providing much-needed support to parents and families in need. Through pop-up pantries and distribution events in 13 regions across the country, HelloFresh and our partners helped connect families to critical resources, including summer EBT benefits.
Help us make a difference, one box at a time.
Help Us Make a Difference with LimeAid Grants
Beyond spring break support, HelloFresh is also helping families across the country access fresh, nutritious food with our LimeAid grants. These grants provide 12 weeks of free meal kits, giving teachers the opportunity to nominate students’ families in need. As a thank-you, educators who participate will be entered for a chance to win a gift card for classroom supplies and resources.
Are you an educator who knows a family that could benefit from a LimeAid grant? Nominate them today and together, we can make an impact in the fight against childhood hunger.
To learn more about how HelloFresh and No Kid Hungry are fighting childhood food insecurity and to join in the action, please visit hellofresh.com/pages/nokidhungry.
Read more about how HelloFresh is working to combat hunger via the blogs below:
