Random Acts’ #RANoHungryChild campaign to end childhood hunger has reached struggling families in Delaware. We have teamed up with the Food Bank of Delaware (FBD) to assist families who needed a helping hand.
Food Bank of Delaware
The Interagency Council on Homelessness reported that 3,227 kids in public school faced homelessness at some point throughout the 2018 school year. It is hard to ignore the epidemic of hungry children when you are faced with a number that severe. 
The FBD works tirelessly every day to feed hungry Delaware residents and offer assistance in long term solutions and strategies. The organization provides feeding and nutrition programs, spreads awareness about the hunger epidemic, and offers foodservice training for unemployed members of the community.
Each service focuses on feeding the hungry now and the larger goals of raising awareness and providing education. With organizations like this, in the years to come, maybe the number of hungry kids will reach zero.
Helping the Hungry
Jennifer Willis-Rivera, Random Acts Director of Operations, worked with the Food Bank of Delaware to provide fresh groceries for struggling families. Random Acts also provided a donation to help the organization carry out their mission of education and advocacy.
These donations help Delaware families like Erin, a single mom who is grateful for the partnership between her children’s school and the FBD’s backpack program. The initiative provides weekend food for families who need a little extra help to get by.
A Mother’s Love
Erin was hesitant to enroll, saying, “Sometimes I have a hard time accepting that we are in need. I am doing my best to keep it all together.” Everyone needs a little help 
sometimes and the bravest thing to do is to acknowledge and accept it. She did just that.
Looking back on it now, Erin is glad she did. “My kids love it. They know there is something to eat that they like,” she said. Sometimes, she gives more food to her children, leaving little for herself—a reality many low income and homeless parents endure.
Initiatives like the backpack program can provide families with some much-needed hope. “It helps me have hope in the future that I will be able to do better.” She went on to say, “I just need some help in the beginning. I feel very good about my future and my children’s future.”
The Emotional Toll
When people think about hunger, they usually think about the physical side of it. We often forget the taxing struggle of never knowing where a future meal will come from or the emotional tug-of-war when parents feel like they have failed their children. That is an awful feeling no parent should ever have to endure.
Programs like FBD treat more than hunger—the symptom of a larger problem. They help on an emotional level. Parents are able to feed their children, have a little less stress on their plates, and work toward their goals knowing that their children will be fed. You cannot put a price tag on that.
Lending a Helping Hand
If this story touched you, check out the FBD website to get involved directly or make your own donation. You can also head over to our staff page to locate your local regional representative to get involved in your own community. They would love to hear any ideas you might have for kindness initiatives.
