PRC-Montana No Kid Hungry AmeriCorps Vista-Hardin

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In Montana, one in five children struggle with hunger. Recent data reports show the trend slightly up from previous year. People most at risk of hunger are all households with children. In Montana, 20% of children under age 18 live in poverty and hunger is directly related to income. Hunger affects health by increasing the likelihood of developing diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Hunger affects cognition by kids having an impaired ability to concentrate and perform well. As a result, kids can’t learn as much, as well, or as fast. Kids attend less school, they’re less likely to graduate, less likely to get a job and become tax paying adults. Hunger affects emotional and social well-being. Hunger causes kids to have significantly higher levels of behavioral, emotional, and academic problems. Consequently, hunger affects so many parts of our children’s lives and they will suffer if we choose not to take action. Our kids are our future. This VISTA project will move Montana's children out of poverty by providing increased access to school breakfast and summer food programs resulting in improved health outcomes by reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, and increase a student’s readiness to learn in the classroom. Later in life, these kids will grow into adults that will have the ability to find jobs that allow them to be financially self-sufficient.