Feed a Kid, Change a Life

The Children’s Hunger Project Honors 10 years of Community Rally Against Child Hunger

The Children’s Hunger Project is the prime example of how the village raises a child. Born from both kindness and the tenacious refusal to accept the concept of a hungry child, the charity recently honored the 10-year massive cooperative effort of the community to feed the most vulnerable among it.

The Evening of Gratitude event in December 2020 highlighted the incredible legacy that the nonprofit has created on the Space Coast. With only a staff of four, but a volunteer army of thousands, it’s a bittersweet time to reflect. Normally, growth of an organization’s reach is cause for celebration. But this milestone reminds us the need to feed only swells. 

“Kids right here in Brevard County are going hungry. How can that be in a country and county such as ours?” TCHP Founder Bob Barnes asked, rhetorically. “The thought of even one child going hungry or worrying about where to find food is heart-wrenching.”

Barnes, a former radio station owner, media and marketing professional and businessman,  channeled his awakening to the issue into founding TCHP in 2010 with three poker buddies. Recognizing few solutions to the problem, their original business plan was simple: “See a hungry kid. Buy food. Feed the kid.” 

”I find it disgusting that a charity like ours even has to exist,” he passionately reminded the audience at the gala.

But his disgust has rallied residents, congregations, corporations, small businesses, other charities and schools to band together to tackle the mission.

Feeding the Need

To truly understand the magnificent undertaking of the TCHP machine, one must first be floored by the magnitude of the need. 

Barnes emphasizes the foundational necessity for kids — the community’s future leaders — to get a good education. The biggest barrier to that? Poor nutrition. If a child doesn’t have access to food, academic performance suffers, as does self-esteem, all leading to a domino effect of negative life impact.

Teachers identify which students show up to school on Mondays hungry, meaning their nutritional needs are not being met at home. TCHP raises money to purchase food that is packaged and delivered to the schools. Teachers put the food packets into the backpacks of the kids who need basic weekend nutrition.

“The concept for solving this problem is so simple, it’s amazing, and we’ve been proving it for 10 years,” Barnes said.

The effort began with feeding 27 children at one school. Currently, weekend food packets are supplied to over 2,000 children at 45 elementary schools — every week.

“We are humbled by what we do,” said TCHP Executive Director Cheryl Cominsky. “The Children’s Hunger Project offers hope to the innocent ones caught up in tough situations.”

Cominsky started as a volunteer five years ago, moved by the “horror stories” of kids not wanting to leave school on Fridays because they know there is no food for them at home.

In 2019, TCHP provided 85,000 weekend food packages. That more than doubled to 200,000 packages in 2020.

The upheaval caused by the pandemic meant a surge in need and a new rally around how to meet it. With funding partially boosted through the CARES Act, delivery expanded beyond the schools, extending to programs at churches, Boys and Girls Club, Club Esteem, Brevard Cares, and through Brevard emergency services. The organization went from feeding 2,400 kids weekly to a temporary 6,000 weekly early in the pandemic. The $9,000 weekly budget suddenly ballooned to $23,000.

As of first quarter of 2021, TCHP is serving over 2,500 weekly.

The Volunteer Army

Barnes refers to the many supporters of TCHP’s mission as angels. And the army of generous souls is deep. From those who fundraise and donate money to those who come to pack food, to the drivers who bring trucks to load and deliver the food to the schools, every person is vital to the mission.

“The backbone, cornerstone and heart of our organization is the thousands of volunteers that have graced us,” Cominsky said.

TCHP staff tracked 2020 volunteers as having given 9,604 hours of their time. That includes office work and even painting the interior of the building, which retired couple Mari and Fred Kroll did recently.

Mari Kroll also logs office hours weekly doing data entry, inventory, housework, packing and “whatever they need.”

“I love it there,” Kroll said. “There’s nothing more important than to make sure kids have food and to know they are going to have food. It makes every other part of their life work better when they are not worrying about food and they’re not hungry.”

But as much as TCHP staff gushes about its volunteers, Kroll made sure to put praise where it is due.

“The women that work there, they are fantastic,” Kroll said of the modest staff of four. “They really care about the job they are doing. It’s not just a job to them, it’s much much more.”

Like many local families, Jake and Jamie Schmalenberger and their two kids have embraced the charity’s mission. In addition to designating TCHP as the recipient of funds raised through food-based community events put on through their company Battle Bros., the family has packed food. Now their children have immersed themselves in the effort to help feed hungry kids, too.

“It makes me sad that some families don't have food or even homes,” said 7-year-old Jemma Schmalenberger. “But it makes me happy that I can do something to help them.”

“Volunteering has made me realize that I'm very lucky and that some families aren't as lucky to have all the things that they need,” said big brother, Jude Schmalenberger, 9.

Every hour and every dollar helps feed kids, giving them a chance at a better future. From each volunteer who packs food to legacy partners like Jersey Mike’s, which has been financially supporting TCHP for years, and Brevard County Hyundai Dealers, which gave the organization its own building, the Bruce Nelson Child Hunger Center, and continues with large annual donations — it’s all vital to the mission.

"It takes a village,” Jamie Schmalenberger said. “And we want to help foster a loving, embracing, accepting ‘village’ that is Brevard County.”

How can you help the village?

“Don't try to solve the hunger problem for the world, our country, or the thousands of needy kids in Brevard County,” Barnes reminds us. “Just feed one.”

How to Help

Learn more about donating and volunteering:

Thechildrenshungerproject.org

321-610-1900

Instagram: @thechildrenshungerproject

Facebook: /thechildrenshungerproject

Twitter: @ChildHunger

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