About

Billy Shore, the co-founder and chairman of Share Our Strength, the nation's leading anti-hunger organization, sat down with Gil Gross, the host of We The States, the official podcast of the National Governors Association, to explain how governors are spearheading the campaign to end childhood hunger in the United States.“Solving poverty is complex. But feeding a child is not. We know how to do that,” observed Mr. Shore. “So it seems to me that the least we can do in a triage sense of the word is make sure these kids get fed, and then let’s try to get to some of the root causes of why they’re hungry in the first place.”He noted that governors work to implement federal programs and use their influence to ensure that school districts participate in school breakfast and lunch campaigns. Governors also bring together superintendents and mayors and other stakeholders to implement programs intended to aid children."Governors are really the whole ballgame for ending childhood hunger,” Mr. Shore commented.Making sure every eligible child participates in the fully funded federal anti-hunger programs is "a win-win for the state. And every governor, Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, they've jumped at the opportunity to increase enrollment in these programs that just make their kids stronger," says Mr. Shore. He noted that local food producers also benefit."Not only is it so good for the kids, which of course is a first concern of a lot of people, but also it can do [so much] for the local economy."Since beginning the No Kid Hungry campaign just a few years ago, Mr. Shore has seen governors add 4 million children to the School Breakfast program.  The kids who participate in these school programs, experience increased test scores, have fewer absences, and create fewer disruptions.  Listen to this powerful and provocative conversation that demonstrates how governors are helping to end the national scourge of childhood hunger in America.