Modern Parent: Getting the family involved in summer food drives

Michaela: THE FOLKS AT THE CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP WANT TO REMIND YOU HOW TO GET INVOLVED AND HELP THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY.

SOMETIMES THIS CAN BE A CHALLENGING TIME FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES.

INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GUESSING TO THE BEACH OR HAVING A PICNIC, SOME ARE ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FEED THEIR KIDS FOR THE SUMMER.

Michaela: GET TOGETHER TO DO YOUR PART.

WE WERE THINKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD GOES TO BED WITH A FULL STOMACH AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN FEED CHILDREN THROUGH THE SUMMER.

IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

Michaela: THE NEED IS GREAT.

SO, WHEN WE TALK TO OUR LOCAL FOOD BANKS SUCH AS RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANK, IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT RHODE ISLAND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY TOUCH BASE ON IS THAT DONATIONS ACTUALLY GO WAY DOWN DURING THE SUMMER BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME, THEY'RE GOING ON VACATION.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THINKING ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

Michaela: HELP THE CHILDREN AND NEIGHBORS IN YOUR AREA.

THE NEED FOR A HOT, NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IS INCREASING.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO HELP SUPPORT OUR FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIS THAT ARE SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO GET THESE DONATIONS TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE IMMEDIATES OF ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

Michaela: IT IS EASY TO DO.

YOU CAN GO OUT TO THE FOOD BANK AND PICK UP POSTERS AND A COUPLE OF BINS AND PUT THEM OUT AT YOUR ORGANIZATION OR PLACE OF WORK.

WHATEVER ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN, LET THEM RUN A FOOD DRIVE AS WELL.

LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE NEED IS.

THERE IS CHILDREN OUT THERE GOING HUNGRY DURING THE SUMMER.

Michaela: MONETARY DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED, TOO.

GO ONLINE.

IT IS EASY TO DO.

YOU FIND THAT LITTLE BUTTON THAT SAYS "DONATE" AND DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL.

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS.

Michaela: MAKE IT A ROUTINE.

YOU CAN REALLY, AS A FAMILY, GOING TO THE SUPERMARKET EVERY WEEK AND PICKING UP THE GROCERIES FOR YOUR FAMILY.

GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED AND MAKE IT A SPECIAL POINT OF MAYBE ONCE A MONTH TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP A COUPLE OF ITEMS FOR THE FOOD BANK AND TAKE THEM THERE AND DONATE THEM AND LET THE KIDS LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITHIN THAT.

Michaela: MAYBE YOU CAN PICK.