All children and families deserve to live free from hunger and poverty. That belief is at the heart of our newest partnership with Share Our Strength (SOS), the national organization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. Together, we’ve launched the SNAP Parent and Caregiver Advisory Council, a bold new initiative that brings parent voice into the center of food policy and systems change.
Why This Matters
Programs like SNAP, WIC, and Summer EBT are essential supports for millions of families. But these systems only work well when they reflect the realities of the people they are meant to serve. This council brings together parents and caregivers with lived experience to identify what works, what needs fixing, and what must change to meet families where they are.
The goal isn’t just short-term fixes. It’s about reimagining systems in ways that prioritize equity, dignity, and lasting solutions.
Who Is Share Our Strength?
Share Our Strength is a national nonprofit committed to ending childhood hunger in the United States. Through the No Kid Hungry campaign, they invest in school and community meal programs, defend essential supports like SNAP and WIC, and work to change the policies that keep families in crisis. Their focus combines immediate access to food with long-term change.
A Powerful Response
When we opened the application for the council in early February 2025, we received more than 150 submissions from parents and caregivers across the country. Each one came with powerful stories, deep insights, and a shared desire to build something better.
From this group, nine council members were selected to represent communities in Washington, the White Earth Nation (Minnesota), Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia. Each brings valuable lived experience and a commitment to transforming food systems for the better.
Coming Together in Washington, DC
In March 2025, council members met in person for a three-day retreat in Washington, DC. They built relationships, exchanged stories, and explored opportunities to improve public food assistance. The experience created space for listening, learning, and collective action.
The message was clear. When parents come together to lead, change becomes possible.
What’s Next
This work continues with monthly meetings focused on food access, public benefits, and nutrition. Council members will help shape national strategies, offer feedback on real-time policy developments, and keep community voices at the center of every conversation.
Because ending hunger takes more than food. It takes parents, partnership, and a shared vision for justice.
Learn more about food access and hunger issues at shareourstrength.org
