90 Meals to Make a Difference This September: Dine Out, Do Good and Help No Kid Hungry End Childhood Hunger

The average person eats 90 meals during one month, and this September, that means 90 chances to help end childhood hunger in America. Thousands of restaurants in Maryland and across the country will once again team up with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to help end childhood hunger in America, one meal at a time.

In the Baltimore area, people can “Dine Out” at any of the participating restaurants, including Brio-Bravo, California Tortilla, Corner Bakery and Joe’s Crab Shack, throughout the month of September. People can also make a contribution to the Maryland No Kid Hungry campaign and take advantage of promotions, coupons and rewards in return for doing good.

Every dollar raised feeds a child in need up to 10 nutritious meals – including the most important meal of the day: breakfast.

Studies have shown that kids who eat breakfast have better attendance, improve in math, and are more likely to graduate from high school, setting them up for future success. However, as children begin the new 2014 school year, far too many are opening their textbooks on an empty stomach; just over half of kids who qualify for a free school lunch are also receiving breakfast. No Kid Hungry works is working to change that, with a goal of connecting 1 million more kids with school breakfast over the next two years.

“As a chef, a mom and a member of Team No Kid Hungry, I believe that every child deserves three meals a day, every day,” said Alex Guarnaschelli, star of Food Network’s “Chopped Ultimate Champions” and author of “Old-School Comfort Food.” “When you dine out and donate this month, you’ll help kids struggling with hunger in your community and in mine. Together we can change their lives.”

Nearly 8,000 restaurants are participating in the campaign, making this the largest restaurant-led initiative to help end childhood hunger in America. Since 2008, restaurants and their customers have raised more than $19 million dollars for No Kid Hungry, supporting programs that give kids better and greater access to meals where they live, learn and play. Since the start of the No Kid Hungry Campaign, Share Our Strength has provided 107 million additional meals to kids in need.

“The restaurant industry collaborates across street corners, brands, and coasts in a powerful display of unity – all to end childhood hunger in America,” said Billy Shore, Share Our Strength founder and CEO. “When consumers dine out during September, they are effectively sharing their table with the 16 million children who can’t count on their next meal.”

Generous supporters of the Dine Out For No Kid Hungry effort include National Restaurant Association, American Express, Aryzta, Ecolab, Food Network, John Morrell Food Group, Kikkoman, SCA Tork, Splick-It and Woodbridge. Core Partners of the No Kid Hungry campaign include Arby’s, Food Network and Walmart.

To find participating restaurants in Maryland, visit NoKidHungry.org/DineOut. Share your dine out experience, follow @NoKidHungry on Facebook and Twitter and join the #90Meals conversation to end childhood hunger, one meal at a time.

About the Maryland No Kid Hungry Campaign

Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley is the first Governor in the nation to commit to ending childhood hunger. To make this commitment a reality, Governor O’Malley, the Governor’s Office for Children and the national anti-hunger nonprofit Share Our Strength, announced the creation of a strong new coalition to end childhood hunger in Maryland by 2015. The Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland, chaired by Maryland No Kid Hungry, aims to raise awareness about childhood hunger in the state, increase participation in nutrition programs that combat hunger, and has developed a robust plan with yearly goals and strategies to coordinate the work of member organizations across the state. The campaign in Maryland is generously supported by presenting sponsor, Sodexo Foundation, as well as sponsors C&S Wholesale Grocers, Yum-o! and The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.