Nourishing USA facts for kids

Nourishing USA is a special kind of group in the United States. It's called a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't work to make money. Instead, it works to help people.

This group works with over 9,500 helpers and food rescue groups all across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. They help make sure people have enough to eat. Nourishing USA supports about 500 local places that help people. These include food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, and shelters.

Simon Hancock is the current leader, called the CEO. He started in 2013. Before him, Gina Keatley was the CEO, and she was even named a CNN Hero in 2011. Nourishing USA was known as Nourishing NYC until September 2010.

How Nourishing USA Started

Nourishing USA began its important work in 2008. At first, it was known as Nourishing NYC. Its main goal was to help people get healthy food in New York City.

In September 2010, the organization changed its name from Nourishing NYC to Nourishing USA. This new name showed that their mission had grown. They wanted to help people get good food all across the United States, not just in New York. The new name also helped them spread the word about stopping hunger and poor nutrition in low-income areas.

Awards and Partnerships

Nourishing USA has received special recognition for its efforts. In September 2010, NBC San Diego featured the group at the Classy Awards. Here, Nourishing USA was named the Charity of the Year for the entire country.

In October 2010, FedEx became a partner with Nourishing USA. FedEx helped by shipping special kits that teach people how to fight hunger. They even used environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles for these deliveries.

In August 2009, a group called Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) chose Nourishing USA for a design competition. This competition looked at how to use an old city site in Harlem, New York. The idea was to connect the local community with the waterfront and use the space for non-industrial purposes.

How Nourishing USA Helps

Nourishing USA connects people who want to help in their communities. They give them the tools and ideas to grow fresh food locally. This helps fight problems like poverty and obesity by making healthy food easy to get.

The national office of Nourishing USA creates educational materials. These tools teach people about poor nutrition and provide information about hunger and poverty. They also share details about programs that help people who need it most.

Community Programs

Nourishing USA has gained attention from different media outlets. It was featured on the Dr. Oz Show in 2011 and on BBC World News. It was also chosen as the Post Foods Charity of Choice in 2010.

In 2010, Nourishing USA helped give out over 25,000 pounds of fresh food. This food went to families in areas where it's hard to find supermarkets. These areas are sometimes called "supermarket deserts."

Nourishing USA also worked with The New York Yankees baseball team. Together, they created the Healthy Home Plate Program. This program was inspired by Nourishing USA's own award-winning Junior Chef Program, which teaches kids about healthy eating.