Help Feed the Kids this Summer

The Humanitarian Service Project (HSP) is seeking community members to support its summertime Feed the Kids program. HSP provides 100 low-income families throughout DuPage and Kane counties with nutritious groceries during the months of June, July, and August. This program exists to bridge the "nutrition gap" experienced by underprivileged children when free school meals are unavailable. 100% of the families enrolled in the program qualify for free/subsidized meals during the school year and rely on HSP's program for the 3 months their children are not in school.

Feed the Kids began in 2004 by feeding 11 low-income families. This year HSP's goal is to provide 30 tons of food to 100 families, with over 400 children. Last year, HSP surveyed the families and learned that 49% of parents enrolled in the program have gone hungry before, so that their children had food to eat and in just two months of the program, 84% of parents told HSP they saw improvements in their child's health. One parent said, "I just want to say how much of a blessing HSP has been in my children's lives. I don't worry about them having enough to eat in the summer. I don't have to go hungry myself, we are able to do more activities because I know we will have food, and this, in turn, ensures that my children's lives are enriched."

Donors are able to sponsor a family by donating $75.00 a month or $225.00 for the entire summer. This funding enables HSP to provide each of the 100 families a comprehensive grocery package monthly, including 15 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, 7 packages of meat, 4 boxes of non-perishables and snacks for the family to enjoy.

Interested community members can also support the program by volunteering to help distribute food to the families on June 10th, July 8th, or August 5th. Anyone who is interested should contact HSP by calling 630-221-8340 or by emailing them at hsp@humanitarianservice.org.

Contact the Humanitarian Service Project: hsp@humanitarianservice.org.

HSP's website: www.humanitarianservice.org

HSP's blog: humanitarianserviceproject.blogspot.com.

About The Humanitarian Service Project:

HSP's mission is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty creates in seniors and children living in DuPage and Kane counties, Illinois. Last year during the Christmas Offering Project, 2,014 children received gifts and over 400 impoverished families received groceries. With the Senior Citizen Project, HSP provides monthly food deliveries and secret pal gifts to 131 low-income seniors. The Children's Birthday Project reaches the youngest underprivileged, making birthdays and Christmas truly memorable occasions for 925 children. Feed the Kids provides 100 low-income families with groceries and fresh produce during the summer months. HSP conducts an annual school supply drive that benefits over 4,000 children by giving supplies to the DuPage Back to School Fair, Kane County's "Project Backpack" and directly to schools with a high percentage of poverty.