Giving beyond the holidays

The holidays always bring out the charitable nature in everyone. The recipients of your charity often have their faith and hope restored by your act of kindness whether it be big or small. All over the country we witnessed folks giving to food pantries, paying off lay-aways and showing a variety of acts of unexpected kindness.

Personally we participated in the Preston & Steve Camp Out for Hunger. This is something we take part in every year because we know how important food banks are to the communities they serve.

Our family with Steve (left) and Preston (right) after making our donation
of nearly 50 pounds of nonperishable food items.

Every year I have the crew sign something as a keepsake for Izzy.
Now that she is finally of an age to understand money and charity, we had them sign a piggy bank.
Our hope is to fill it many times over and use the money toward next year's donation to the food drive. 

With the current climate of the economy even people that you think may not be in need (like your neighbors) are utilizing these community services. Did you know there are families out there that only eat on certain days of the week? This is the terrible choice they must make just to survive and keep what they have. So even though the holidays are over, we cannot forget about the continued need to fill the pantries of families around the country. 

Did you know that over 16 million children under the age of 18 are food insecure? This means not only are they unable to access adequate amounts of food but they also lack the nutritious foods needed to grow strong and healthy bodies. This reality is devastating and touches every part of their life from their rumbling bellies to their ability to function and learn at school. Children with developing immune systems are hit hardest because without proper nutrients they are more likely to fall victim to common illness, diseases and infections.

In addition to lack of food, the quality of food we provide to our children is equally important. Approximately 17% (12.5 million) children ages 2-19 are obese and that number is growing. As parents it is our responsibility to present our children with good choices. That means we need to educate ourselves, our children and our community.

That is why I am taking part in the Abbott Nutrition Pack A Snack SIMPLE Service Project.

In conjunction with the 'I am one of Millions | Champions for Kids' Campaign, I am teaming up with Abbotts to learn about the nutritional needs of my community, how I can help and what I can do to teach my family about good health and food choices.

This week I will be headed to WalMart and I will be gathering up a donation of healthy foods like Pediasure®, Pediasure SideKicks®, and ZonePerfect® bars to help children in need. I will be making my donation to the Food Bank of Delaware. I would like to encourage you to do the same. This food won't just fill their bellies but it will help them live happier lives, feel more secure and help them to have a chance at a healthier future.

Let's not forget our community just because the holidays are over. Our children need us 365 days a year. Will you be one of the millions that enriches a child's future with a simple good deed?

To get involved in the SIMPLE Service project go to: http://championsforkids.org/simple/ for more information. And I hope that you will join us for the Abbott/Champions for Kids Twitter party on January 19th at 9:00 pm EST, using the hashtag #AbbottCFK.

(Sources: Feeding America; Center For Disease Control)

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own.  #CBias  #AbbottCFK