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Adequate nutrition is essential for children to develop, thrive, and become their best selves physically, mentally, and socially. This is one of the most compelling reasons to take a stand against hunger in our communities and work toward food security, as 鈥渁ccess by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.鈥�
Copenhagen is proud to team up once again with five local food banks in Arizona and Texas 鈥� , the , the , the , and 鈥� for the fourth annual 5&5 Charity Food Drive, running now through April 6, 2025. By donating 5% of gross sales to local food banks, as well as offering a 5% discount* to customers who donate 5 nonperishable food items or $25 to a participating food bank, we hope to raise $50,000 to fight hunger in our communities.
Below, learn how food banks make a difference in the lives of children and their families through initiatives that bring much-needed sustenance to our communities鈥� youngest members.
Unfortunately, food insecurity is still an issue for nearly 1 in 7 households in the US, according to the . This number is higher for households with children 鈥� roughly 1 in 5 households with children struggle to acquire adequate food at some point in any given year, meaning food insecurity affects .
Children are especially vulnerable to the of hunger and food insecurity. A lack of proper nutrition can cause kids to struggle with focusing and learning in school, meaning they may fall behind academically. It can also cause a higher risk of health conditions like anemia and asthma, and result in developmental delays in physical, emotional, and behavioral realms. All these issues can have long-term effects that can impact a child鈥檚 life in significant ways.
Fortunately, food banks are working on the front lines of the fight against childhood hunger. In addition to distributing millions of pounds of nonperishable foods, produce, and other necessities to families in need every year, food banks often provide kids with no-cost nutritious meals that meet USDA requirements for protein, grain, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and other nutrients. Here are 5 such programs that local food banks offer to help kids thrive.
After school meal programs like the often provide the last meal of the day for children in food-insecure households who don鈥檛 know if they will get enough to eat for dinner that night. Defined by the San Antonio Food Bank as 鈥渁 partnership between a food bank and a non-profit that has established youth programs,鈥� many Kids Cafes also offer activities to children that encourage eating healthy and being physically active.
Kids Cafe is part of the USDA鈥檚 Child and Adult Care Food Program and is offered by many participating food banks across the country, including the San Antonio Food Bank, the Central Texas Food Bank, and St. Mary鈥檚 Food Bank. Additionally, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona offers a similar program, which distributes healthy snacks to children under 18 at various community sites.
Many food-insecure households with children rely on school lunches as a steady food source for kids on weekdays 鈥� but they may need extra assistance on weekends, over summer breaks, and during other times when school isn鈥檛 in session. That鈥檚 where food banks step in.
For instance, St. Mary鈥檚 and the Central Texas Food Bank offer the program, which distributes bags of nonperishable foods to help children stay fed through weekends and/or school breaks. The Community Food Bank has a dedicated program, while both the San Antonio and Central Texas Food Banks have a that collectively serves to children in need every year.
Did you know that food banks can partner with federal and state agencies to provide free and low-cost school lunches? The El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank and the Central Texas Food Bank help implement the in their areas of service, with serving 182 schools in West Texas and serving over 435 schools in Central Texas. Such partnerships can be crucial since, according to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, 鈥渢he volume of food reaching schools in West Texas has dropped an unprecedented 50% over the past two years, and 1 in 3 children are food-insecure in our community.鈥�
Food pantries and pop-up markets on school campuses are another way in which local food banks connect kids with the nourishment they need. The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, and the Central Texas Food Bank all help run that provide nonperishable foods and produce on school grounds 鈥� this can be much more convenient for families than making a separate trip to a food bank, especially if they live far away from one. Additionally, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona assists with , which operate like farmers鈥� markets at schools and offer fresh, local produce.
Beyond the above, some food banks have additional services that you may not have heard about for children, young people, and others in need. For instance, did you know that the Central Texas Food Bank runs a program to tackle college food insecurity and help students succeed? This initiative resulted in 350,0000 pounds of food distributed at 8 college sites in the most recent year on record.
Did you also know? St. Mary鈥檚 Kids Cafe has a program for rural communities that are unable to have daily meals delivered to them. The Freeze & Thaw program establishes sites that receive monthly bulk deliveries of frozen and nonperishable foods that meet USDA nutrition standards. This is important given that food insecurity is an especially pressing issue in rural areas 鈥� according to , 鈥淩ural areas comprise less than two-thirds of all U.S. counties, but 9 out of 10 counties with the highest food insecurity rates are rural.鈥�
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona also offers a unique youth fellowship called . This fellowship is geared toward high school students with the goal of developing leadership skills to tackle the root causes of hunger and other issues affecting local communities.
By providing much-needed, nutritious food and other resources to children and their families, food banks are working toward a brighter future for all of us. If you鈥檙e looking for ways to support your local food bank, consider participating in our 5&5 Charity Food Drive through April 6, 2025. Or visit the website of your nearest food bank 鈥� , the , the , the , and 鈥� to find more ways to contribute to the cause.