Initiative aims to unite powerful community voices to help tackle childhood hunger across the Southeast
Contact: Johanna Elsemore, jelsemore@strength.org
TAMPA, FL – No Kid Hungry and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® (AKA), South Atlantic Region, have joined forces to help tackle childhood hunger through direct assistance and advocacy efforts in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. This initiative is the result of a cross-sector collaboration initiated by the Denny's corporation to bring together two of its mutual partners to further the vision of Kelli Valade, Denny’s CEO.
The partnership kicks off at the 72nd South Atlantic Regional Conference for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® in Tampa Bay. Members from both organizations will assemble Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Packs (C.H.I.P.P. ™), nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals and snacks for kids experiencing food insecurity in the region. The power packs will be delivered to students in need at B.C. Graham Elementary School in Tampa as well as at Title I schools in Madison, Leon and Gadsden counties.
This event serves as the official kick-off for the partnership. No Kid Hungry has committed $50,000 in grant funding to support the region's efforts to address childhood hunger.
“The AKA CHIPP project is a part of our international initiative that aims to Empower Our Families,” said AKA South Atlantic Regional Director, The Honorable Tiffany Moore Russell, Esq. “This partnership supports our most ambitious childhood hunger program to date and provides our members with additional knowledge and expertise that will help us fight for policies that can reduce child hunger in the communities we serve, allowing us to make an even greater impact.”
The partnership includes a series of advocacy webinars to educate AKA members on issues and policies that help fight child hunger and connect kids with the meals they need to thrive. The webinars will feature child hunger experts and share practical ways to advocate effectively at the national, state, and local levels. An additional component of this partnership is the creation of an elected officials cohort made up of members from all levels of government within the region. Elected officials will be invited to attend a more intensive webinar series addressing issues relevant to lawmakers.
“No Kid Hungry and AKA have always shared a vision of ensuring all kids are fueled to achieve their greatest dreams,” said Rhonda M. Jackson, director of No Kid Hungry Louisiana. “As a member of AKA, I know that the work of our sorority aligns perfectly with the work of No Kid Hungry, and I’m so proud to be formally partnering in this work to combat childhood hunger.”
No Kid Hungry has been Denny’s main national charity for 15 years. AKA is a Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholarship partner.
Learn more about the partnership here.
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 6 kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® (AKA), an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women.
About Denny’s Corp
Denny's is a Spartanburg, S.C. - based family dining restaurant brand that has been welcoming guests to our booths for more than 70 years. Our guiding principle is simple: We love to feed people. Denny’s provides craveable meals at a meaningful value across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night. Whether it's at our brick-and-mortar locations, via Denny's on Demand (the first delivery platform in the family dining segment), or at The Meltdown, Banda Burrito, and The Burger Den, our three virtual restaurant concepts, Denny’s is ready to delight guests whenever and however they want to order. Our longstanding commitment to supporting our local communities in need is brought to life with our Mobile Relief Diner (that delivers hot meals to our neighbors during times of disaster), Denny's Hungry for Education™ scholarship program, and our annual fundraiser with No Kid Hungry.