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Kids United
A TOOLKIT for Parents, Teachers, Schools, Civic Organizations, Places of Worship, and Kids
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Contents
A letter from David Hall, 2014 Kids United Chair ...................................................................... 3
From Public Citizens for Youth and Children ..................................................................... 4
Hunger Nutrition Coalition of Bucks County ...................................................................... 5
Coalition Against Hunger ........................................................................................................... 5
Information About Nutrition and the Connection to BKO Hunger ...................................... 6
What Does My Kid Do To Participate? ............................................................................................ 8
2014 Goals ............................................................................................................................................ 8
How Do We Raise Money? ................................................................................................................... 9
Tabling ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Business Sponsors ..................................................................................................................... 10
Raffle................................................................................................................................................ 10
Pancake Breakfast ...................................................................................................................... 10
Distributing Canisters ............................................................................................................... 11
Three Square Meals ................................................................................................................... 11
United Way of Bucks County Kids United Recognition Levels ........................................... 12
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A letter from David Hall, 2014 Kids United Chair
Why Kids United?
As a parent and a teacher, I believe that my own children and students should do what they can to support our community. When the United Way of Bucks County announced the Bucks Knocks Out Hunger initiative, I saw this as an opportunity for my own children to serve their community while also learning some lessons that can only be taught through service. Kids United provided an opportunity for my children to help other kids who are food insecure. At the same time, they didn’t just learn facts about hunger in Bucks County but also felt compassion and concern for some of our county’s most vulnerable children. Last year, I thought that we would raise $300-$500. I never imagined we would raise more than $5,200. What I quickly learned is that fighting food insecurity brings our community together. Eleven families packed our family room for the first meeting of Kids United. Jules Thin Crust joined us to see what they could do. In the end, the team raised over $5,200, making us the largest donor to Bucks Knocks Out Hunger. How did the kids do it? First, we had a magnanimous supporter from Jules Thin Crust, which donated over $3,000 of the total. The kids distributed canisters. Some asked family members for donations. They tabled around town and asked people to contribute. One year later, I asked my 8-year-old what she learned from Kids United. She said that “Some kids have to wait their turn to eat.” I learned heart breaking stories of food insecurity impacting some of the people closest to me. I also learned that this is an issue that brings our community together. We hope that you will join Kids United this year in our fight against food insecurity. This toolkit is full of information and different ways in which you can get involved – whether it is your family, neighborhood, classroom, school, place of worship, civic or community organization. Go through our toolkit, and feel free to use the methods that work best for you. BKO Hunger will conclude with a one day meal packing event on Friday, June 20, 2014. All contributions to the project must be made by this date. However, if you can turn in your contributions the week before, it will make planning for the project easier. Sincerely, David M. Hall Chair, Kids United United Way of Bucks County
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Facts About Hunger in Bucks County for Parents & Teachers
Poverty & Hunger
From Public Citizens for Youth and Children www.pccy.org
Nearly 9,000 children living in Bucks County (6.5 percent) are living in poverty. Of the children who are in poverty, over one-third (3,000 children) live in deep poverty (less than half the poverty line, or $11,775 annually, for a family of four).
The number of children in low-income families has increased 18 percent from 2008 to 2012. This means a larger share of Bucks County families are losing ground and facing greater challenges in meeting children’s basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter.
A tragic result of poverty is hunger. Insufficient nutrition is one of the most basic and formidable challenges standing in the way of children’s well-being. Not having enough nutritious food compromises a child’s healthy development, both physically and psychologically.
In Bucks County, food insecurity impacts 14% of children. According to the USDA, food insecurity occurs when people do not have access to enough food to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
Children suffer not only the immediate consequences of hunger, but are more likely than their "food secure" peers to experience higher rates of educational problems including missed days of school, suspension and the need to repeat a grade. These and other adverse outcomes lead to a greater likelihood of school failure or dropping out.
Ultimately, food insecurity exacts a huge cost as it contributes to a greater likelihood of limited employability, lessened workforce productivity, poorer job performance, and $260,000 lower lifetime earnings.
There was a 45% increase in the share of Bucks County students eligible for free and reduced-price school meals between 2008 and 2012. Currently, there are over 18,000 Bucks County students who eligible for free and reduced-price school meals.
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Summer Meals for Low Income Children
Hunger Nutrition Coalition of Bucks County www.foodinbucks.org
While millions of children depend on nutritious, free, and reduced-price meals and snacks at school for 9 months out of the year, just a fraction of them receive the free meals during the summer months.
Approximately 10,000 children in Bucks County are eligible to receive free meals in the summer, yet only a fraction of them have access to summer meals.
TABLE: SNAP Participation by County
Coalition Against Hunger www.hungercoalition.org
Which counties have seen the largest increases in residents who use SNAP (food stamps)?
RANKING COUNTY NO. SNAP PARTICIPANTS (2007)*
NO. SNAP PARTICIPANTS
(2012)
INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION
PERCENT INCREASE
1 Cumberland 6,905 17,026 10,121 147%
2 Franklin 6,807 16,221 9,414 138%
3 Adams 3,529 7,524 3,995 113%
4 Montgomery 23,134 48,961 25,827 112%
5 Pike 2,964 6,253 3,289 111%
6 Chester 11,929 25,038 13,109 110%
7 Bucks 18,233 37,965 19,732 108%
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Information About Nutrition and the Connection to BKO Hunger BKO Hunger has three main objectives: 1. Provide Bucks County food pantries with shelf stable, nutritionally enhanced, pre-
packaged meals. In 2013, volunteers packed more than 100,000 meals in just a few hours for BKO Hunger. The benefit of these meals is that they are easy to prepare and have added vitamins and nutrients. Because we use volunteers to measure, pack, sort and seal meals, the cost is just 25 cents per meal.
2. Provide Bucks County food pantries with additional funds to fill the gaps. Pantries in Bucks County both struggle to meet demand and have difficulties securing certain items. Lean proteins and other perishable items do not typically come in through food drives. Providing additional money directly to panties county-wide helps them fill gaps as needed.
3. Provide Bucks County pantries with fresh, local fruits and vegetables. The vast majority of people who visit food pantries do not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We all know that fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to a healthy diet. We have made getting fresh, local fruits and vegetables into Bucks County food pantries a BKO Hunger priority.
The BKO Hunger team works to not just provide food, but to provide healthy, quality food to our friends and neighbors. That's why we provide pantries with fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables along with lean proteins such chicken and fish. Why are these foods essential for balanced nutrition? Fruits: Besides being a great source of nutrition, fruits make quick and easy snacks. Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories and provide nutrients that are under consumed including potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and folate. Vegetables: Packed with vitamins and minerals, vegetables are low-calorie foods that help the human body stay fit and disease free. Vegetables, especially green, yellow, and orange ones, are rich sources of antioxidants which help protect the body and boost immunity. Lean Proteins: Meats and beans are primary sources of protein, which is essential for proper muscle and brain development. Lean, low-fat meats such as chicken, fish and certain cuts of beef and pork are the best options. Removing the skin and trimming off any visible fat are easy ways to reduce the amount of fat and cholesterol in meats. Fruits and vegetables benefit kids in many ways, including improved nutrition, decreased obesity risk and better school performance, but most children don’t get the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Only 22 percent of
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toddlers and preschoolers and only 16 percent of kids ages 6 to 11 meet the government's recommendation, according to Ohio State research. One-half of children’s mealtime plates should be filled with fruits and vegetables in order to reap the benefits. When kids eat more fruits and vegetables they:
have overall better health
decrease the chance of obesity
improve digestive health
perform better in school
Research has found that children are not getting enough essential nutrients including calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and vitamin D & E. Keep this in mind when planning your child’s diet. Sources of these nutrients are listed below:
Fiber- fruits and vegetables, whole grains
Vitamin E – nuts, seeds, wheat germ oil and vegetable oils
Calcium- low fat and fat free dairy products, rhubarb, spinach, collard greens, and sardines
Magnesium- whole grains, nuts, pumpkin seeds, and white, black, navy beans
Potassium- legumes, potatoes, dried apricots, beet greens, prune juice and dairy products
Vitamin D- sunshine, fortified dairy and juice, cod liver oil, salmon, tuna and mackerel
Your packet includes information regarding some of the fruits and vegetables distributed to pantries over the past few years. Take a moment and discuss them with your Kids United team. Introduce them to some of these products, if possible.
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What Should My Kid Do To Participate? All tasks that kids complete need to be documented by the child and their parent/guardian/caretaker.
It is critical that you let your Kids United Committee Chair know what you are doing, when, and with whom. Your coordinator will pass that information on to United Way.
If you do not have a Kids United Committee Chair, you will report canister locations and other fundraising activities to: Danielle Bush, Director of Community and Volunteer Engagement United Way of Bucks County 413 Hood Boulevard Fairless Hills, PA 19030 215-949-1660 ext. 112 - 267-391-7504 (C) - 215-949-0373 (F) DanielleB@UW Bucks.org
When you report canister locations, please include: number on the bottom of the canister (including any letters), location of the canister including street address (so we can mail a thank you note), and the name of the contact who approved having a canister on site (just in case we get any questions from someone else at the location).
If you drop a canister off, you are also responsible for collecting the money in it. There are three ways to turn money in.
Bring it to UW Bucks as cash or check
Mail a check to 413 Hood Blvd, Fairless Hills PA (memo line: BKO Hunger)
Bring it to any First Federal or First Savings of Perkasie branch. Tell them the money is for Bucks Knocks Out Hunger - they will put it into the BKO Fund
UW Bucks needs to report canister locations, as well as other fundraising activities, to other volunteers, local press, and the Board of Directors. It is absolutely required that you let someone know where your canisters are, when and where you will be tabling, if you have any sponsors, etc.
2015 Goals
It is our goal at Kids United to help our children grow into stewards of their communities. We feel that the best way for this to happen is to:
1. Have honest conversations with our children about the needs of others in our community
2. Discuss the ways in which we can contribute to those in need 3. Let children know that we have a responsibility to give back to the community
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4. Give specific praise to kids as they volunteer ("You just made our community a better place today by raising money to put food into the food banks!")
We feel that if we can keep an open dialogue with our children and keep them involved in volunteer opportunities, they will grow up with a giving spirit, intrinsically motivated to give back to our community. Building character and showing kids how to use time productively also means they are more likely to stay out of trouble.
To win award recognition from United Way and Kids United, kids need to do the following:
Raise Money: We have lots of ways to raise money. It includes tabling, canisters, solicitation, and sponsorship. Ideas are provided in the following section.
o Tabling: In Doylestown, we found the right space for tabling could raise $30-$60 per hour. Each tabling session must be a minimum of two hours. It requires the kids tell people about BKO Hunger and ask for donations. Children must always be supervised when tabling.
o Distributing Canisters: The United Way will provide canisters, and we are happy to place them on the counter of any Bucks County business or organization that will have them.
o Dining Out: One of the most effective steps that Kids United has taken is to partner with local restaurants that provide 'Dine and Donate' programs. Many will donate 15 - 20% of their sales for the day to nonprofit partners. What restaurants do you frequent? Which have a strong sense of community partnership? Dining Out for Hunger Relief can be a great component.
Find Sponsors: Do you know anyone who will support the cause? How about area businesses? Or will your kid participate in Three Square Meals (details on page 11) and get sponsored for their efforts?
Get Press: We are raising not just money but also awareness for food insecurity. Are you planning an important event? The United Way can help get the attention of the weekly paper in your area. Let us know how we can support you.
How Do We Give Credit for Money Raised? Below is a detailed explanation of the ways you can raise money. If seeking United Way award recognition, here are some of the options that will count toward the total amount raised per child/family:
Tabling: Each session of tabling is divided to count among the kids who attend. If two children from two different families raise $60, each child is
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credited with raising $30. If two children from the same family raise $60, that family is credited with $60.
Distribute Canisters: Canisters count per child. If a child distributes five canisters and each canister raises $7, then the child is credited with raising $35.
Dining Out: This is usually a team. For example, let’s say you create Kids United Bensalem and have 10 kids participating in a Dine Out event. If the event raises $250, each kid is credited with raising $25 each.
Find Sponsors: You can ask local businesses to sponsor your group. Kids can also find sponsors for participating in Three Square Meals (page 11.)
Tabling Tabling can be a highly effective way to raise money. It can also help our children raise awareness. Some people give pennies; others contribute a significant amount of money. If raising money in front of business, consider asking them for a gift card to raffle off to larger contributors. For example, Jules Thin Crust gave us a $100 gift card to raffle off. Our team spent an entire day tabling in front of their store. Anyone who donated $5 was entered into a raffle to win the $100 gift card. These groups should not be too large. If you have two or more children in your family, you should probably table by yourselves. Having 2-3 kids at the table is the ideal number. Children must be supervised at all times. Many kids can also use guidance from adults about how to approach people. Sitting there passively will bring more limited results than children saying, “Excuse me. Can you donate money for families that don’t have enough money for food?”
Business Sponsors Of the $5,300 raised by Kids United, over $3,000 came from Jules. They donated $1,600 based on 15% of two-day sales. Then they generously donated even more to make Kids United the largest donor to Bucks Knocks Out Hunger 2013. Some things to consider:
What companies do you and your team have a relationship with?
What can they gain from supporting Kids United?
Will they offer things that you can sell or raffle for Kids United?
Raffle Can you collect donations of gift cards and services of area businesses? How about holding a raffle for a gift basket or other valuable services?
Pancake Breakfast What if your team looks into hosting a pancake breakfast? It makes sense that we pay a little extra for our meals to help those who can’t afford three square meals a day. You can volunteer your time, and perhaps a local restaurant or civic organization will pledge the food and other supplies. The proceeds can go to your team’s efforts as Kids United.
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Distributing Canisters Canisters are a quick way to raise awareness of BKO Hunger and get more businesses involved. The numerous contributions that canisters bring in can really add up to make a big difference. Note: All canisters must be collected by July 31, 2015.
Canister Canvassing Guidelines
1. When approaching a business, kids should do the asking with parent/guardian supervision.
2. Feel free to involve kids in brainstorming where to place collection canisters. Adults should have final say over where they ask as kids may not always think critically about traffic.
3. Remember that small businesses are likely to have more latitude to say yes than corporate stores. Also spread out the canisters so a diverse array of citizens will see them. Please track (even if it is informal and general) how well you do at each location. This will help us be more strategic next year.
4. Know in advance which date you will collect the canisters. 5. Keep in mind the perspective of the business manager when asking if they will take a
collection canister. Their biggest concern in saying yes is that the canister will be neglected. Please stress the following:
Give them a firm date as to when you will pick-up the canister. All money should be turned in by Friday, July 31, 2015. Please plan your canister collections accordingly.
Promise to check-in (by phone or in person) every two weeks to see if the canister needs to be emptied, if it is damaged, etc.
Three Square Meals Three Square Meals is a challenge we ran last year where children only eat 3 meals in a day – no snacks, no treats, and no extras. This structure will give participants a better understanding that for some, access to food has its limits. They can get sponsored by asking for contributions if they successfully complete the day. If you are interested in organizing this challenge again this year, contact Tim Philpot at [email protected].
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United Way of Bucks County Kids United Recognition Levels You are welcome to participate in any way you choose. Even just taking responsibility for one canister at a local business will still make a big difference. However, the United Way of Bucks County and the Kids United Committee will recognize the kids who go above and beyond in addressing food insecurity. See below for the awards that kids will receive when reaching new heights in fighting food insecurity:
Superhero. This distinction goes to a child who accomplishes the following: o Family (regardless of number of kids) raises $500 for Bucks Knocks Out
Hunger. o Each kid tables a minimum of three times. o Each kid distributes a minimum of five canisters at area businesses.
Hero. This distinction goes to a child who accomplishes the following: o Families (regardless of number of kids) who raise $300 for Bucks Knocks Out
Hunger. o Each kid tables a minimum of three times. o Each kid distributes a minimum of four canisters at area businesses.
Champion. This distinction goes to a child who accomplishes the following: o Families (regardless of number of kids) who raise $200 for Bucks Knocks Out
Hunger. o Each kid tables a minimum of two times. o Each kid distributes a minimum of three canisters at area businesses.
Fighter. This distinction goes to a child who accomplishes the following: o Families (regardless of number of kids) who raise $100 for Bucks Knocks Out
Hunger. o Each kid tables a minimum of two times. o Each kid distributes a minimum of three canisters at area businesses.
We deeply appreciate your involvement. We believe that no child in Bucks County should go hungry when just 25 cents can provide a meal. We believe that fresh produce needs to be a part of every kids' diet. We know that together, we can make a difference in thousands of lives in Bucks County and show our children what it means to give back.
