How You Can Get Involved

There are many ways for everyone in the D.C. community to participate in this historic challenge. Families, individuals, churches, synagogues and mosques, businesses and community groups who want to be part of improving the District's health, education and economic future can make an impact in a variety of ways.

How families and individuals can help

• Make sure you know about nutrition assistance and how to get it.
• Talk to your kids about the importance of good nutrition and a healthy breakfast.
• Talk to your school officials about nutrition programs. Parents should push for greater public and charter school efforts to expand universal school breakfast participation.
• Participate in fundraising activities like Share Our Strength's annual Great American Bake Sale® to fight childhood hunger in D.C. and around the country.
• Donate the use of your land for a community garden
• Grow an extra row of vegetables in your garden to donate
• Host a neighborhood awareness-raising/fund-raising party.
• Support your local farmer';s market
• Write, call or visit City Council and Board of Education members to let them know you support policy changes needed to implement this plan fully.

How businesses can help

• Make sure all your employees know about assistance they may be able to receive.
• Use your technical expertise in ways that make a difference:
• Contractors can help make needed improvements to after-school programs' facilities.
• Restaurants can urge their chefs and other staff to teach nutrition education classes.
• Media outlets can donate public service announcements, or devote special programming to explaining nutrition assistance programs.
• Retail stores can display point-of-purchase information about hunger and nutrition and healthy choices.
• Start a relationship with an after-school or summer program, and feed children in that program. Organize employees to raise funds, donate materials and volunteer to help that group's nutrition effort.

How Faith-Based and community groups can help

• Hold information sessions and provide nutrition information to members.
• Use federal nutrition programs to support your activities and ministry
• Distribute materials on hunger and nutrition programs through bulletins or newsletters.
• Talk about good nutrition from the pulpit.
• Sponsor or host classes on nutrition education, food preparation and gardening.
• Organize fundraising or volunteer activities to support ending childhood hunger.
• Start a relationship with a particular school, after-school or summer program, or community. Organize employees to raise funds and volunteer to help that group's nutrition effort.
• Coordinate efforts with neighborhood stores or co-ops to coordinate produce purchasing.
• Host or sponsor a farmers' market or community garden.