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Michigan Launches "Share Our Strength - No Kid Hungry" Initiative

DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan has become the 18th state to launch the national "Share Our Strength - No Kid Hungry" initiative.

Children who go to school hungry are less likely to meet their grade-level and even age-related expectations in class.

Not only do kids need a nutritionally healthy start to the day during the school year, but also during the summer.

WWJ's Pat Sweeting says that unfortunately, many families are unaware of programs designed to do exactly that.

To those families, Mike Brennan, president & CEO of United Way of Southeast Michigan, made this announcement during the during the "No Kid Hungry" kickoff in Detroit.

"There has been a newly formed partnership with Michigan 2-1-1, the three digit phone number that you dial 24-7, 365 (days a year) to find out where to go for help. We've now transferred the data out of the state of Michigan on all places of entry to access food into the nine centers across Michigan," said Brennan.

Bill Shore is founder and CEO of "Share Our Strength" he says kids aren't going hungry because of a lack of food or nutrition programs:

"The reason that most kids are hungry, if they are hungry, is because they lack access, to those programs," said Shore. "This school in this city have done something so impressive; the idea of universal school breakfast in the classrooms, which has brought the participation levels up, to where they should be really does stand out as a national model."

The first year goal of the five-year project is to boost participation in school nutrition programs to 2 percent.

By dialing 2-1-1, feeding programs and other resources can be found near home or work.

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