* Nearly 50 percent of young American children live in poverty.

* Between 1975 and 1994, the young child poverty rate increased by 39 percent.

* The young child poverty rate grew nearly twice as fast in the suburbs (59%) as it did in the cities (34%).

* Most poor children live in working families (Columbia University, 1994)

Disciplinary problems go hand in hand with hunger. There is compelling evidence to support the idea that many students' "Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder" would vanish if provided with wholesome food. Other behavioral problems may relate to the fact that seventy-two percent of inner city children know someone who was shot or murdered (Whaley & Wong,1995). Likewise, 52% of 4th-6th graders in California fear getting stabbed. The ability to excel scholastically is negatively affected by hunger, violence, and poverty.

According to Emily Katz, a Hampshire College graduate who chairs the Campaign to End Childhood Hunger in Sacramento, California, “It is well proven in academia that children who eat breakfast have less disciplinary problems, less tardiness, less absenteeism, and higher test scores than do their hungry counterparts”. Likewise, a trip to the cafeteria calms a hungry "trouble-maker" more effectively than a trip to the principal's office. "Children from households experiencing regular food shortages suffer long term developmental and disciplinary problems", Katz emphasizes.

A child’s high energy requirements for growth and development redouble the importance of proper nutrition. Think about a child who misses dinner and breakfast. By midmorning, the child is almost unable to function. A teacher rebukes the malnourished student, head-down on the desk, "daydreaming again!" The famished, ill-tempered child gets a "time-out". Imagine this happening systematically, especially during the last week of every month when the paycheck, subsidy or food stamps run out. Are we going to punish kids for being hungry? Hunger related disciplinary problems cause unnecessary stress for children and their families. Likewise, a few of the medical problems associated with childhood malnutrition include failure to thrive, diminished IQ, diarrhea, kwashiorkor, marasmus, blindness, rachitic rosary, and even death (Whaley & Wong, 1995). Hunger amongst immigrant families and their children is especially rampant. Tragically, welfare reform sacrifices the American child for budgetary revenue.

The saddest aspect of this particular blight, Katz stresses, is how easily solvable it is with the School Breakfast Program, School Lunch Program and Summer Food Service program. But there is good news. Despite devastating welfare reforms, Congress has included funds in this year’s budget to significantly bolster front-line programs against Childhood Hunger. Unfortunately, many schools still don’t offer these government funded meals to hungry children. After interviewing school administrators, Katz learned that schools face barriers to implementing these programs. But, Katz explains, none of these hurdles are insurmountable. Firstly, administrators view the start-up expenses associated with the Breakfast Program as cost prohibitive. Secondly, in rural areas where students face long bus commutes to school, current bus schedules prevent attendance at school breakfast. Thirdly, some schools do not offer the Free Breakfast Program to hungry children because “we’ll need more cafeteria monitors”.

Bureaucracy looms as the final obstacle to implementing the School Breakfast Program. It costs as much in labor to prepare 10 breakfasts as it does to prepare 50. But because our government reimburses schools according to the number of children being fed, schools must feed a certain ‘quota’ in order to make the program sustainable. School administrators plea, “We tried the breakfast program, but only 10 kids came”. We need advocates in the local community to encourage more kids to use the Breakfast program. The Breakfast Program isn’t just for poor families either. In many households, children get themselves ready for school. Things can get so rushed that there is no time to prepare an adequate breakfast. So the Breakfast Program is not strictly an income issue.

School committees can oversee changes that would facilitate implementation of the Breakfast program. For instance, to surmount scheduling problems around bussing, breakfast can be served on the bus itself. Alternately, a breakfast period can be worked into the school-day just like a lunch period. Volunteers across the Pioneer Valley are eager to help feed hungry people. Certainly School Committees can work with programs such as Next Step Collaborative to find Volunteer Cafeteria Monitors. There is not a single challenge facing the Breakfast Program that can not be conquered with a little ingenuity.
With one half of all children living below the poverty level, Food Subsidy Programs are critical. Our children’s health and nation’s future rely upon proper nutrition. Disciplinary problems vanish when perpetually hungry children are fed. It is unjust to idly watch as community children suffer the physical, intellectual, and psychological torments which accompany hunger. By ensuring utilization of the School Breakfast Program, we will increase literacy rates, improve attendance, bolster enthusiasm, and avoid illnesses associated with malnutrition. And that’s a big load off of everyone’s stress.

For more information about programs to end hunger call or write:

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program)

Hampshire County - 413-584-3591
Holyoke/Chicopee - 413-593-8800
Franklin/No.Quabbin - 413-773-3421

Summer Food Service Program

A hot meal, free for anyone aged 1-18

Franklin County - First Call for Help 1-800-370-0940
Hampden County - First Call for Help 737-2712

First Call For Help, making referrals for food and other services: 413-256-0121

Please call ahead to inquire about restrictions and schedule changes.

FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY MEALS & PANTRIES

Community Meals
Holy Trinity Church
133 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, 01301
774-2884
Hot meal on Thursday, 5:30

Franklin County Community Meals
Second Congregational Church
16 Court Square; Greenfield MA, 01301 (774-4355)
Services offered Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:30

Franklin County Community Meals
St. Mary’s Hall
90 Seventh Street, Turners Falls, MA, 01376 (772-1033)
Monday 5:30 pm

Salvation Army
72 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA, 01301 (773-3154)
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

West County Community MealsTrinity Church
Severance Street, Shelburne Falls, MA, 01370 (625-9009)
Friday at 5:00 pm

Hilltown Churches
St. John’s Corner, 649 Main Street, Ashfield, MA, 01330 (628-4523)
Alternate Mondays, call for scheduling and emergency services

Franklin County Area Survival Center
96 Fourth Street, Turners Falls, MA, 01376 (863-9549)
Monday-Friday 10 am - 1:30 pm; USDA Food Distribution

HAMPDEN COUNTY COMMUNITY MEALS & PANTRIES

Margaret’s Pantry
56 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA, 01040 (534-7610)
Services: Monday-Friday, agency referral required, call 9:00 am - noon, pick up same day by appointment

Kate’s Kitchen
264 Elm Street, Holyoke, MA, 01040 (532-0233)
Services daily, 12:00 pm

Salvation Army Citadel
271 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA, 01040 (532-6312)
Monday-Friday:Food Pantry and Bread distribution, 9 am-noon, hot meals 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm; USDA Food Distribution

Friends Place
St. John’s Congregational Church
643 Union Street, Springfield, MA, 01109 (734-2283)
Wednesday, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Greater Love Church
65 Newland Street, Springfield, MA, 01107 (782-3342)
Last Saturday of the month, 10 am - noon

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
3 Rutland Street, Springfield, MA, 01109 (746-4254)
Friday 10:00 am - 11:00 am. USDA Food distribution

Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen
287 State Street, Springfield, MA, 01101 (731-5668)
Daily noon and 5:00 pm

Springfield Rescue Mission
19 Bliss Street, Springfield, MA, 01105 (732-0808)
Monday-Saturday, 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Open Pantry
Old First Church, Court Square, Springfield, MA, 01103 (757-5353)
Services: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Agency referral required, call 413-256-0121

West Spfld/Agawan Open Pantry
1023 Main Street, West Springfield, MA, 01089 (734-7969)
Services: Monday-Friday 9:30 am -10:00 am; 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Wednesday 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Lord’s Pantry
First Central Baptist Church
50 Broadway, Chicopee, MA, 01020 (592-5353)
Tuesday 9:00 am - 11:30 am

Emergency Food and Fuel
Valley Opportunity Council
36 Center Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013 (592-6121)

Emergency Food Pantry
7 Free St., Westfield, MA, 01085 (572-0802)
Monday-Friday, 10 am - noon

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COMMUNITY MEALS AND PANTRIES

Provisions Pantry
Dwight Chapel, 885 Federal Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007 (256-8059)
Services by appointment

Amherst Survival Center
1200 North Pleasant Street, North Amherst School, North Amherst, MA 413-549-3968
Services: Monday,Tuesday,& Friday. 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, Thursday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
11:00 am - free to all - get a bag and fill it with dairy, poduce and perishables
12:00 am - 1:00 pm - sit down hot lunch
All day during open hours - Emergency Food Pantry - a box of dried, canned, or frozen foods (the only service requiring paper work)

Not Bread Alone Soup Kitchen
14 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 413-256-3586
Saturday and Sunday, noon - 2:00 pm

Food Pantry
First Baptist Church, 434 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01002 (549-3596)
Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Northampton Survival Center
265 Prospect Street, Northampton, MA, (586-6564)
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm; Tuesday, Thursday 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. USDA food distribution

Manna
Edwards Church
297 Main Street, Northampton, MA (584-5500)
Monday-Wednesday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm; Saturday 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Manna
St. John’s Episcopal Church
48 Elm Street, Northampton, MA (584-1757)
Sunday 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Calvary Baptist Church
413 Main Street, Easthampton, MA
527-6252 - by appointment

Community Care
Easthampton Communtiy Center
12 Clark Street, Easthampton, MA (527-5240)
USDA food distribution on the first Monday of the month, 10:00 am - noon and 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Gateway Food Pantry
Hampshire County Action Commission
9 Russell Rd., Huntington, Ma. 01050 (627-3122)
Tuesday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm; Thursday 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, home delivery available, USDA food distribution

Pioneer Valley Assembly of God
63 Old Chester Road, Huntington, MA, 01050
667-3196
By appointment

Please call ahead to inquire about restrictions and schedule changes.