Chefs and culinary professionals nourish others for a living, so it comes as no surprise that they’re committed to feeding their communities, too. From raising funds and awareness through events to advocating for better legislation and funding for meals programs, the culinary industry is ending childhood hunger, one action at a time.
And 2019 was especially full of action! Here are the top 10 ways our chefs and culinary partners took a bite out of childhood hunger this year.
They "shared summer" across Arkansas and Texas
Summer is the hungriest time of year for kids. When schools close their doors, kids no longer have access to school breakfast and lunch. That’s why chefs Matt Bell and Tim Byres joined No Kid Hungry in their states to raise awareness about summer meal sites in the community. The simple act of telling families where to find summer meals can increase the likelihood a child gets a nutritious meal when school is out of session.
They went live with Busy Philipps
Chef Curtis Stone and Busy Phillips co-hosted our first-ever live stream variety show kicking off No Kid Hungry’s annual consumer-driven Dine for No Kid Hungry campaign, which has raised over $75 million since 2008.
Curtis Stone and Busy Phillips co-hosted No Kid Hungry Live in September 2019
They helped ensure kids are "Powered by Breakfast"
Chef Brooke Williamson joined No Kid Hungry at the Santa Monica Pier in March to kick off No Kid Hungry’s Powered by Breakfast, which raises awareness about the importance of school breakfast to fuel a kid’s day. Every day, kids in America come to school hungry because there isn’t enough to eat at home – and hungry kids struggle to learn. Making breakfast part of the school day, just like lunch, means that a lot more hungry kids get to eat.
They went to Capitol Hill to advocate for kids
In June, chefs from 15 states made the journey to Capitol Hill to speak with legislators on behalf of kids in need. Why? 6 out of 7 hungry kids don't get the summer meals they need. And this year, Congress is considering changes to the laws that govern the national summer meals program, making this a natural opportunity for the culinary industry to speak up to support our country's children.
Chefs from 15 states descended on Capitol Hill to advocate for summer meal access
They advocated for kids in their state
But advocacy doesn't just happen at the federal level. California chefs Travis Flood, Valerie Gordon and Tanya Holland visited their state capitol in Sacramento to speak with lawmakers about ensuring all kids have access to breakfast in their state. Thanks in part to their efforts, California approved funding in the state budget for Breakfast After the Bell grants, paving the way for tens of thousands of kids to start their school day with breakfast.
Travis Flood, Valerie Gordon and Tanya Holland traveled to Sacramento to advocate for school breakfast expansion.
They helped restore millions of dollars in the New York City budget so more kids can start their day with school breakfast
In New York City, 67 chefs penned this letter to the Governor and New York City Council to restore $6 million for Breakfast in the Classroom in the 2020 New York City budget. The funding will help schools improve infrastructure and purchase new equipment for cafeterias, allowing them to serve more students each day.
They stood up against policy changes to SNAP
This summer, eight Texas chefs authored an op-ed in response to the White House's proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If enacted, 3 million people could lose access to SNAP and it would put school meals in jeopardy for as many as 1 million kids. The rule is currently under review.
They biked 300 miles for hungry kids
In May, more than 200 chefs mounted their bikes to ride in Chefs Cycle, an annual endurance event where members of the culinary community fight hunger outside the kitchen. Collectively, they raised $1.8 million, which translates into more than 100 million meals for kids facing hunger.
They united at Taste of the Nation events
Hundreds of the nation's finest chefs, sommeliers and mixologists participated in Taste of the Nation events, which collectively raised over $4.6 million to end childhood hunger in communities across the country.
Hundreds of chefs around the country helped raise more than $4.6 million for hungry kids.
They hosted dinners and raised millions of dollars
Chefs in 16 cities hosted intimate dinners to raise millions of dollars. Funds raised help connect kids and teens in their community to the meals they need to achieve their dreams.
Chefs in 16 cities hosted intimate dinners that raised millions for kids living with hunger.
Today, fewer kids in the U.S. are hungry in the last decade. The latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture tells us 1 in 7 kids lives with hunger in the U.S. right now. While there's still more work to do, this is a massive step in the right direction and one that is the work of many hands, including chefs and culinary professionals from across the nation.
