Together We are Making Sure No Child Goes to Bed Hungry

Hunger is a part of my history. From working at a young age to help feed my family, to raising my grandkids, and now being hard at work making sure my neighbors have enough to eat, it’s
important to me that no one goes without. As a kid I remember picking fresh peaches from the yard and taking a big juicy bite. Memories like that make me smile and I think every kid should
be able to have the kind of memories about food that bring them happiness, not sorrow.

My mom always showed her love through food and that’s how I am raising my grandkids, too. But I also want to make sure my neighbors and the kids in my community know that I care,
too. I want to help them have access to healthy food—whether that is at the pantry or in the lunchroom.

That’s why I volunteer at the local pantry, WestCare. And in my time there I learned about the Food Leaders Lab. The program has helped me to do even more for my community. As a member of the Food Leaders Lab with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, I get to learn more about systemic issues causing food insecurity and how I can use my voice to make a difference and advocate for hunger relief programs. Thanks to the Food Leaders Lab, I’m advocating for change. I received training on advocacy, policy, and communication to help me solve hunger in my community.

As parents and grandparents, our goal is to make sure that there’s food on the table. My focus is making sure no child — no child, not just mine — goes hungry. These tools took me all the way to Washington, DC! Who ever thought someone like me would have the chance to go meet the President and go to the White House? I still can’t believe it. And I’m still working with elected officials to come up with new ways to support people facing hunger. Thanks to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, my voice will be heard.

Anita Garrett
Food Leaderes Lab graduate