More than 9 million children faced hunger in 2021. That’s 1 in 8 kids at risk for hunger. About 40% of families that use SNAP food stamps are families with children. Three out of every four teachers say they have children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry. The consequences of hunger are much more than a growling stomach. Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, increased hospitalization, lower IQ scores, shorter attention spans and lower academic achievement.

The need in the Longwood central school district is great. There are 9,500 students in the district and 4,900 are age 12 and under. Friday afternoons many of those children go to food insecure homes where they don’t know when their next meal will be.

What Hunger looks like?

• Child asks for extra food at school breakfasts or lunch
• Child consistently does not bring in a snack
• Ill fitting clothes
• Inappropriate clothes for the season or weather
• Irritability before or after weekends and holidays due to anticipation of the lack of food
• Patterns of isolation, lethargy and sickness after weekends
• Frequent visits to the nurses office
• Hoarding food
• Bringing home food for themselves or a family member

Surveys have found that in addition to no longer feeling weekend hunger pangs, children fed by Blessings experience the following impacts on their lives:

78% feel cared for by their community

71% feel that Blessings is helping their family

60% have fewer behavioral issues

60% report that school attendance is better

59% find it easier to learn in school

Please help us expand the number of hungry children we reach