In Kansas and Missouri alone, approximately 1.3 million people are experiencing food insecurity. About 380,000 of them are children. Country-wide, around 14 million children face ongoing hunger. One in 5 children are unsure of when they will receive their next meal.

That is why Kansas City AZA #2 launched its BBYO Stand UP campaign, “If I Have The World.” Our mission is to help end childhood hunger in our community.

Two’s kicked off the campaign in the fall with community service programs at Mitzvah Garden KC, a volunteer-supported, nonprofit garden with 100% of its harvests going to local food pantries. In September and October, Two’s helped harvest peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and okra, as well as general maintenance in the garden.

Two’s will continue its volunteer efforts when the garden re-opens in March for growing season. The chapter has pledged to donate part of its proceeds from the chapter’s 3rd Annual Marty Awards to the garden. The chapter is also working with the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry to organize a food drive at the Marty’s in May.

But service and philanthropy is not enough. Contacting our elected officials is crucial when striving to create or change policy. In particular, Two’s is advocating for legislation that would provide school meals for all children.

“School meals play an important role in reducing childhood hunger and promoting higher levels of education,” said Shaefer Spizman, Two’s outgoing Vice President. “However, due to current eligibility thresholds of free meals, many children are missing out, creating further instability for families.”

In November, Two’s AZA wrote to Rep. Sharice Davids, Sen. Roger Marshall and Sen. Jerry Moran, urging them to support comprehensive anti-hunger initiatives and legislation such as the Healthy School Meals to All initiative. On Jan. 3, Rep. Davids responded to our letter, writing: “As the daughter of a single mom, I know the value of working hard to provide for your family. I saw my mom work her heart out every day so my brothers and I wouldn’t be denied any opportunity. Many folks today are working just as hard as my mom did to get by. But many are struggling to pay their mortgages or groceries because their spouse was laid off, or because they got a surprise medical bill. Folks who work hard and follow the rules shouldn’t be condemned when they fall on hard times.”

In 2023, nearly 14 million children faced hunger. The simple truth is that hunger exists in every county in our nation, including here In Kansas and Missouri.

“Providing Healthy School Meals for All allows every single student to meals free of cost, ensuring they can learn, thrive, and increase equality and justice,” Spizman said. “The United States is perfectly capable of standing up to hunger and that will be achieved with free school meals.”

In Harvesters’ 27-county service area in Kansas City and Missouri:

  • 1 in 8 (12.3%) people are at risk of hunger. That’s 12.3% of the population or 338,990 individuals.
  • 1 in 6 kids are at risk of hunger. That’s 17% of the population or 109,160 children.

To help spread awareness, Two’s has created a web page dedicated to our campaign, twosaza.com/stand-up-to-hunger. Here you can find facts about child hunger, resources, reports, videos and news, as well as an online form that lets you send a general email to all legislators at once. In addition, Two’s is spreading the word through articles and posts on social media, the chapter newspaper and the alumni e-newsletter.

Please join us in our fight to end child hunger!