On Sunday, March 8, 2026, HealthMPowers in collaboration with No Kid Hungry and Share Our Strength, equipped countless Georgia youth with the power of advocacy and storytelling. It sparked a transformative, powerful urge to take leadership on the crisis of food insecurity in Georgia. Nearly 80% of Georgia families who qualify for Summer EBT report struggling to afford food during the summer months, writes No Kid Hungry (2026). Food insecurity is a multifaceted issue–it impacts families who face transportation issues, work conflict, lack of nearby meal sites and extreme summer weather. Moreover, food insecurity is a crisis that now threatens the education of those impacted by K–12 students. When nutrition is lacking, it sets up a child for failure. Students cannot be expected to succeed when they are without the proper nutrition and nourishment to do so. Hunger is not simply missing a meal or two, but an everyday struggle to access healthy, nutritious meals that keep our youth energized.
That is why the No Kid Hungry campaign was built by Share Our Strength–to empower our youth and families against the food insecurity crisis within Georgia. To counteract this battle against food insecurity, Summer EBT was ideated. It is a program mainly taking place in the summer (as it is the peak of food insecurity due to absence of school meals) to provide eligible families with additional benefits to purchase groceries, writes No Kid Hungry (2026). $120 in benefits can be awarded to each child, and a survey implemented by No Kid Hungry was shown to report eligible families would use said benefits for nutritious foods. This could completely revolutionize the battle against food insecurity and give struggling families the leg up they desperately need.
Moreover, one in three Georgia families with children experience low or very low food insecurity, says a poll by Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health (2026). These families are not just statistics, but real people with real stories. In fact, those affected could be your classmates, your neighbors, your teammates, and even your relatives. Despite how minimal it may seem to you, as a reader, it is reality for so many. It is a reality that so many struggle to break against and lack the necessary tools or resources to do so. Nobody should be alone in a crisis–which raises the need for us to take action.
Youth in food insecurity especially suffer as a lack of nutrition means a lack of success at school. School now more than ever has become stressful–up to 7 rigorous classes a day, tedious homework, socially demanding and lengthy school days. For a student to excel in such an environment, nutrition is a bare minimum. Food insecurity can affect concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills, says No Kid Hungry (2023). All of which are necessary to fulfill one’s education. Being a student myself, I can attest to the taxing school lifestyle. It is no easy feat, to be able to juggle classes, extracurriculars, sports, a job, etc. It takes careful time management and balance–all of which chronic hunger threatens.
This is not a challenge just faced by those who are food insecure–but by all of us. When kids and families go hungry, we lose valuable voices. Voices that reside in every industry, profession, and environment in our society. Voices of people who contribute to our world meaningfully–yet are hindered by food insecurity. When we lose such important perspectives and contributions, our society as a whole begins to lack. Why should we allow those around us to struggle when we can take action?
We here at HealthMPowers are striving to take that action. As a Youth Advisory Board member, we are equipped with the tools, resources and mentorship to be leaders in our community, regardless of our age. This time, we’re taking initiative to fight back against food insecurity here in Georgia. Thanks to No Kid Hungry and Share Our Strength, we’ve been given training on how to navigate food insecurity–through Summer EBT.
One wonderful opportunity for the No Kid Hungry campaign to learn about Summer EBT took place at the AKA Virtual Day at the Capitol, on March 1. I was not only given the chance to help represent the No Kid Hungry campaign but also advocate for students and youth like me. I was able to present real stories and a real perspective on the matter from a high school student to countless representatives at the Capitol. These representatives were looking to hear from real youth, and thanks to No Kid Hungry, I was able to offer my own insights.
Additionally, the entire HealthMPowers Youth Advisory Board was given specialized training on advocating and storytelling to help get Summer EBT into Georgia’s budget this year! We also were able to invite fellow Georgia students ages 12-18 to such an important opportunity. No Kid Hungry and HealthMPowers strive to offer leadership opportunities to any youth, regardless of where they reside. Moreover, we were also introduced to the HealthMPowers Digital Community! It is an online platform enriched with resources, support, and a live network of youth leaders like me. It is perfect for collaborating and brainstorming ways to make a change, through active discussions and blogs. Together, we work to drive change–like making sure the Summer EBT is successfully funded in Georgia.
That is why I, as a student myself in Georgia, have pushed to bring attention to this crisis and a much-needed relief for those affected by it. Summer EBT could be the gamechanger these struggling families need and give them the support they need. It is not something that can be done by just one person alone–but by a community. That is why we are calling for any youth or adult to take the initiative alongside HealthMPowers and No Kid Hungry. Let’s keep all of Georgia healthy and strong, one step at a time.
