Symposium puts spotlight on childhood hunger

One in five children cannot count on three meals a day, according to Share Our Strength, an organization whose mission is to end child hunger in America. Studies have shown that hunger leads to trouble concentrating, increased health and behavioral problems, and poor grades. Childhood hunger also has been linked to developmental issues and health problems in adulthood.

To raise awareness of the problem, the DuPage Foundation is supporting a Community Symposium on Child Hunger from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Friday, April 17, at Central DuPage Hospital, 25 N. Winfield Road, Winfield. The event is supported by the Gustafson Family Foundation and Northwestern Medicine and is coordinated by Loaves and Fishes Community Services, which received a $5,000 grant from the foundation for the event.

Keynote speaker for the symposium will be John Cook, an expert on food insecurity and its effects on children. He is an associate professor in the department of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine and a principal investigator for Children's HealthWatch. Prior to joining Children's HealthWatch, Cook was the research director at the Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutrition Policy at Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Joining Cook for an interactive panel discussion will be: Sandy Goldberg, moderator, NBC5 Chicago on-air health and nutrition contributor; Theresa Hawley, executive director of the Illinois Governor's Office on Early Childhood Development; Jennifer McNulty, pediatric emergency medicine physician at Edward Hospital in Naperville; and Linda Van Horn, professor in preventive medicine-nutrition at Northwestern Comprehensive Center on Obesity at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Food insecurity is a growing issue for many DuPage children," said Barb Szczepaniak, foundation director of programs. "We're pleased to be part of this effort to shine a spotlight on the need for all children in our community to have full bellies and access to nutritional food so they can learn, thrive and succeed from infancy."

The public event is free, but registration is requested. To register, visit loaves-fishes.org and click on "Events - Spotlight on Child Hunger."