Areas of Focus: Disease prevention and treatment, Maternal and child health
Childhood hunger is a serious issue in Wilson County, NC, USA. The childhood poverty rate in the county is 36%, (NC average is 22.2%). 27% of NC's children live with food insecurity. Many chronically hungry students only meals are those provided during school hours. CHEW was created in 2012 with the help of several members of the Greater Wilson Rotary Club to provide nutritious meals during weekends. It is a 100% volunteer organization and all money raised is used to purchase food. The students receiving weekend meals are identified by student counselors and teachers. Currently over 540 students are being provided weekend meals. CHEW purchases food recommended by a nutritionist and makes it available to local churches & civic organizations who each adopt a school. The organizations pack the meals at a cost of $5.00 per weekend per student. The groups deliver the meal bags to schools on Thursday and the teachers place the weekend meal bags in the student's book bags. .CHEW's annual budget is approximately $144,000 depending on the number of students being fed. CHEW is a 501c-3 non-profit and has been very successful in attracting corporate sponsors and individuals who recognize the need to eliminate childhood hunger in Wilson. Many of these donors make a 3-5 year pledge to ensure the sustainability of the program. There is currently enough money in the bank to complete the current calendar year and several months into the next year. Members of the Rotary Club of Greater Wilson serve on the CHEW board and many members participate in the logistics of "getting the food out". The club elected to provide $44,000 in funding over the next 3 years. They are also seeking participation in the grant from the other two Rotary Clubs in the Wilson area.. The Greater Wilson Rotary Club is seeking funds to help sustain the operation and to expand the coverage to all Wilson County schools. Teachers recognize the advantages of this program by witnessing students being able to focus better in class and having less behavioral problems. It is CHEW's desire to eliminate the distraction of hunger from a student's ability to learn and be the most productive individual possible.
