FIGHTING HUNGER CLOSE TO HOME: A WORD FROM SUMMER INTERN ALYSSA

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This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Florida Impact to End Hunger as an intern in Miami, Florida. Each day, my fellow intern, Shirbrina, and I traveled to five Summer BreakSpot sites throughout Miami the hour before lunch came to help children to receive a free, healthy lunch.

We also coordinated physical and educational activities for them to do the hour before. The kids were always ready to jump rope, learn about healthy eating with Common Threads, or play kickball! In one particular instance, a group of kids at our third site saw footballs we were holding and immediately ran over to us all set to play!

Throughout my internship, I was able to create bonds with the kids as well as gain hands-on experience working for a nonprofit organization. I have been able to work with individuals within Florida Impact to End Hunger and other groups that have a like-minded goal of ending hunger within the community, but also be free to coordinate different activities to ensure the kids would come back the next day.

Overall, working for Florida Impact to End Hunger gave me the opportunity to fight hunger within my community, and it is an experience I will never forget!

– Alyssa Barberis

A DIRECT IMPACT: A WORD FROM SUMMER INTERN DAINA

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This summer I had the pleasure of working with Florida Impact to End Hunger as a Youth Ambassador. This was the first internship that allowed me to have a direct impact on the people I intended to help. I worked with children in four of our super cites, we shared stories, learned about one another and built bonds.

The internship allowed me to see the world through the eyes of these amazing children, they taught me different things about their culture as I taught them different things about mine. This experience would not have taken place without Florida Impact to End Hunger and No Kid Hungry. I have many many memories and I hope to use the knowledge I have gained in my communication field as well as in the development of my non-profit organization.

– Daina Barrett

MEETING OF THE MINDS: A MONTHLY CHECK-IN FROM OUR PRESIDENT/CEO

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This week, I traveled to Tallahassee to visit with agencies and associations about supporting our campaign against hunger. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and supportive of Florida Impact to End Hunger. Thanks to Secretary Prudom at Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Secretary Poppell at the Department of Children and Families, and Surgeon General Rivkees at the Department of Health for taking the time out of your crazy busy schedules to hear our voice and listen to our concerns about our most vulnerable populations.

I also had great and productive visit with our longtime partner, Lakisha Hood, Director of The Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. We talked about how Florida Impact to End Hunger can support their efforts to make sure that children receive a meal during the summer months through the Florida BreakSpot Program.

I also stopped in for a chat about the Afterschool Meals Program with Heather Bernier at the Association of School Administrators, and then a final stop at the Florida Education Association to meet with Tina Dunbar and discuss how we can support Florida’s teachers and cultivate school nutrition champions in the classroom.

Many thanks to Sky Beard from Florida No Kid Hungry and her new staff member Josh for meeting with us at the end of a long day to plan strategies in working together to end childhood hunger in Florida. Thanks to our devoted COO Katie Williams who supported me at all our meetings and remains in Tallahassee to continue all these partnerships. None of this would have happened without the incredible scheduling efforts of Kelli Greene, our administrative coordinator and go to/do everything assistant.

What a week! And it’s not over yet…

– Trudy Novicki

President/CEO

Florida Impact to End Hunger

#teamstories