United Way of Greater Atlanta is committed to providing children who are at risk of going without one or more meals each day this summer with a lunch. The Silence the Growl campaign fights against childhood hunger and benefits kids across the Greater Atlanta area. Research has shown that one in five kids is in a free or reduced meal program during the school year and may have no other source for that important meal during the summer break.

Silence the Growl is part of United Way’s larger efforts focusing on the well-being of children in Greater Atlanta. The organization’s Child Well-Being agenda concentrates on the direct correlation between child well-being and thriving communities. Neighborhoods where children receive the least amount of support from the community are prioritized accordingly.

“When you’re hungry and you’re a child, you’re not getting the nutrition you need to feed your brain and body. You’re going to lash out and act out and perhaps even do bad things,” explains Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. “In the summer, the community should wrap its arms around these children and make sure they have food.”

Citizens can actively participate in Silence the Growl through the following activities:

• Donate directly to the campaign. Donations of more than $40 are eligible for a “lunch is on me” t-shirt.

• Volunteer to pack lunches to fill hungry bellies. And make sure to sign up for our volunteer event at Monday Night Garage on June 3. A portion of the proceeds from purchases will be donated to Silence the Growl. The event will kick-off Food Insecurity Week, where we have a week full of volunteer opportunities available.

• Engage with us on social media. If you’re hosting your own Silence the Growl event, volunteering with friends, or wanting to spread the word, use the hashtag #SilenceTheGrowl.

Know Your Neighborhood

United Way has created the “Know Your Neighborhood” simulator allowing individuals to gain a better understanding of the state of the children in their immediate community. By entering an Atlanta zip code into this simulator, users learn the number of children living in poverty in the area as well as the percentage of families who are not financially stable, families with housing cost burden and the unemployment rate. This simulator is available on United Way’s website, https://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/silence-the-growl/.

“The Know Your Neighborhood technology has allowed Atlantans to better appreciate that there are hungry children and families with financial troubles all across the Greater Atlanta region,” explains Milton J. Little, Jr., CEO of United Way of Greater Atlanta. “We not only want to raise awareness, but also want to give people the opportunity to address the crisis firsthand by supporting their community and donating to the Silence the Growl campaign. Just $10 can feed four hungry kids a meal.”