Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons is a shining example of a player who shines both on and off the court.  Charlie’s “Tenis Para Niños” program, through a partnership with Crocs and Feed The Children, has distributed over 30,000 pairs of Crocs footwear to impoverished children in the Dominican Republic. 

“As a professional athlete…you have to…be a good role model and help others,” Charlie has said.  Inspired by his parents who were born in the Dominican Republic, Charlie works to distribute shoes to children in schools and orphanages because “I was in their shoes at one point.” 

Shoe donations might seem like a small thing, but in a country where 42% of the population lives in poverty, they represent progress, self-sufficiency, and a future.  Shoes prevent exposure to harmful bacteria and illness and protect feet from the elements, but they also have an added benefit: self-esteem.  Children with shoes can go much further than children without shoes—literally and figuratively.

Thanks to our partnership with Charlie, his Tenis Para Niños program, and Crocs, Feed The Children isn’t just feeding children, we’re improving health and quality of life.

President Obama has pledged to end child hunger in America by 2015.  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reaffirmed that goal and stated that the Obama Administration intends to ask for $1 billion in additional annual spending for child nutrition programs next year when the programs are reauthorized.  Secretary Vilsack said, “[We’re] making a historic investment in improving our child nutrition programs and we look forward to our continued work with Congress to continue strengthening USDA programs that impact the health and nutrition of our children.”

Adequate funding during the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization process is critical to the improvement and expansion of programs like the National School Lunch Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).  Research shows that hungry children cannot concentrate and can often have behavior problems in school.  These programs make sure that millions of children in America have access to meals at home, school, and after school. 

Feed The Children supports a strong federal nutrition safety net and is working with the Congress to ensure that necessary investments in our children’s futures are made in the final Child Nutrition Reauthorization law.

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of America’s great traditions.  Although football games, crisp fall weather, and time spent with loved ones are associated with Thanksgiving, we all look forward most to gorging ourselves on roasted turkey, herbed stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, and indulgent pies.

The American Farm Bureau recently calculated that the average Thanksgiving dinner this year, complete with turkey, rolls, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie, will cost $42.91 for a family of ten, or $4.29 a person.  With food prices decreasing overall, the cost represents a 4% decline from last year.

Yet even $4.29 for a healthful, home cooked meal is out of reach for many Americans.  The federal government recently reported that 49 million Americans, including 17 million children, are hungry or at risk of hunger.  That is the highest level of food insecurity ever documented in the history of the report—and represents far too many people who struggle unnecessarily.

If you are lucky enough to be enjoying a Thanksgiving feast this year, don’t forget your neighbors in need.  Give thanks for what you have and engage in another proud Thanksgiving tradition: sharing your bounty.