Kids Helping Kids
Kids' Food Basket has a strong commitment to our Kids Helping Kids program. We believe that youth volunteerism promotes children to be civic-minded, community-oriented, and allows them to participate in their own personal development. Kids can help other kids gain freedom from hunger.
Youth Advisory Board
The KFB Youth Advisory Board is comprised of middle school and high school students. The board gives students the opportunity to learn about childhood hunger, and the tools to share and act upon this information within their community. It allows students to build strong leadership skills, to learn how to impact their community, and to have opportunities of leadership and mentoring through a local advocacy agency.
The goal for the Youth Advisory Board is to raise awareness of the local problem of childhood hunger, and the mission of KFB, by initiating a Hunger Takes Flight program in their community.
Youth Advisory Board members receive volunteer service hours for their time, and have had the opportunity to apply for scholarships because of their service. Last year the Youth Advisory Board members were also representatives at KFB's annual fundraiser Feast for Kids and the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
Hunger Takes Flight: (HTF)
Every spring in May, 250 students from KFB's receiving schools are invited to a Hunger Takes Flight picnic at the Blandford Nature Center. At the picnic each child releases a butterfly, which is symbolic and celebratory of his/her freedom from hunger.
The Youth Programs: Simultaneously children at area schools are encouraged to raise funds on behalf of KFB sack supper recipient kids through Hunger Takes Flight programs: any off-site volunteer opportunities suitable for schools or youth organizations. Choose from one of many great fundraising ideas found here, modify one to fit your needs or create your own! An optional culmination of a HTF program for a participating elementary school is a butterfly release celebration.
Article on Empowering Youth Philanthropists