Mary Owens, Coordinator of Operations for Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky, was struck with an idea at a GCNF Forum. During a panel discussion, a delegate presented a country report and indicated that they could provide a child with a meal at lunch for $.05. She realized the importance that one meal given at school could have on a child’s life. Access to a school meal could give a child a much better chance at survival. Mary Owens took this thought back to her district in Kentucky and launched the campaign, FIVE (5¢) CAN KEEPEM’ ALIVE.
To kick off FIVE (5¢) CAN KEEPEM’ ALIVE, Mary Owens requested that lunchroom managers voluntarily raise a nickel to represent each student enrolled in their school. For example, a school that has 400 students would be asked to raise $20, a nickel for each student. The money she collected through this campaign was given to GCNF’s Change Our World campaign to help build sustainable school feeding programs in developing countries.
In Jefferson County, Kentucky, the Change Our World campaign kicked off under the leadership of Mary Owens. In 2009, Ms. Owens initiated the campaign at her office Holiday party. Combining the Holiday generosity with other fundraising activities, she raised $4,543.20. With the help of her district association (JCSNA), they rounded out their contribution to $5,000 and recently donated this to GCNF. GCNF’s Change Our World is an annual cause marketing campaign that raises both awareness about global child hunger and funds to support GCNF’s efforts to assist developing countries build sustainable country owned and operated school feeding programs.
Raising awareness and funds to support programs such as the ones made possible through GCNF should happen all year! Global hunger is not only an issue in April, but a concern year round. Global Child Nutrition Month is a great way to raise awareness about global childhood hunger.
Through the GCNF’s Change Our World Campaign, you have the power to provide hungry children in the developing world with the same opportunities children in U.S. schools enjoy every day—a nourishing meal that helps them focus on learning and reach their full potential.
Questions? Please email us at gcnf@schoolnutrition.org
Mary’s Tips for Involvement in the Change Our World Campaign, or to use during Global Child Nutrition Month:
- Student (with the approval from a teacher):
- Decorate various size cans retrieved from the lunchroom’s daily production to collect the coins in
- “Buy Lunch for an International Friend” Day (5¢/School Meal). Contribute (5¢) per day to the collection tin.
- Establish a Pen Pal with a student in another country
- School: Encourage a local neighborhood business or VIP to adopt your school and donate a nickel (5¢) for each student during Global Child Nutrition Month.
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