Kids Care Clubs
Just Bring One!

An easy way to collect food for local food banks and soup kitchens is to ask people attending a local community or school event to "Just Bring One!"

Art shows, school fairs, sporting events, team banquets, concerts or club meetings are perfect events to set up Just Bring One! collection boxes. Partner with the group hosting the event and advertize your Just Bring One! collection.

Just Bring One! can help many families who have been affected by the downturn in the economy. Food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters that serve them have experienced increased demand and reduced supply.

Materials Needed:
Contact your agency for their food "wish list." or see list below:

Non-perishable food items:

Hot chocolate, tea, coffee
100% Juice boxes
Parmalat
Chunky soups or stews
Canned meat and fish
Canned fruit and fruit packs
Breakfast cereal
Microwaveable items like – macaroni and cheese

Steps Involved:

1. Decide on the agency you would like to help. Check for stories in your local newspaper for agencies in need.
2. Ask the agency for a list of the top food items. Ask the agency if kids can help deliver the items.
3. Partner with the group hosting the arts or sporting event to advertize the "Just Bring One!" collection.
4. Make a flyer to distribute before the event. Include the time and date, the contact information of the agency (in case families want to help on their own) and a list of items. You can customize the Feed the Hungry Neighborhood Flyer on the right side bar of this page under Club Activities for your Just Bring One! collection.
5. Set up collection boxes to collect the items.
6. Make a poster describing your agency; with information such as how many meals they serve a week or how many families they serve.
7. Enjoy the event. Collect the items.
8. Take pictures and put one in your local paper with a caption. Your club’s response to others in need will inspire your community to help.
9. Complete a Club Response Card.

Facts about Hunger

Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic relief charity reports hunger in American is on the rise. They estimate:

-Nearly 14 million children are served by Feeding America, over 3 million of which are ages 5 and under.

-According to the USDA, an estimated 49.1 million Americans including 16 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2008.

-20% or more of the child population in 16 states and D.C. are living in food insecure households.

-Their nationwide network of food banks is feeding 1 million more Americans each week than we did in 2006.

-Thirty-six percent of the households they serve have at least one person working.

-In November, 2008, The Food Research and Action Center reported that in nearly half of the states in America, one in ten Americans now receive food stamps. A single person receives about $101 in food stamps a month, per household it is about $227.

Because joblessness is increasing, wages are falling, and food prices are rising, millions more Americans will be seeking food stamps and eating at soup kitchens this year.