Stand with Sam to Combat Hunger

I am a freshman student named Sam. Recently in my English class, we started reading I Am Malala. This book inspired our teacher to create a project, known as the Malala project. Like the Malala fund, we were tasked with the goal of spreading awareness about an issue that we care about. I chose to help people in our area who do not have enough to eat.

I am working toward the goal of fundraising as much money as possible for an organization known as the Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative (AAIC). My mom and I have been volunteering with the AAIC for several years.

Their main program is called Food n' Friends, a program that serves daily meals in the Attleboro area and summer lunches to kids in need in the summer when lunches in school aren't available. In 2024 a total of 47,491 meals were distributed. Food n' Friends will soon be providing meals to the new homeless shelter opening in Attleboro. This program also collaborates with the United Way every Thanksgiving to put together Thanksgiving meals for families in need.

As an interfaith organization, the daily meals are cooked out of Attleboro area houses of worship all by volunteers. The AAIC also provides interfaith chaplaincy services at Sturdy Memorial Hospital.

According to census.gov, in 2023 the percentage of people living in poverty in Attleboro was 9.2%. According to Empty Bowls Attleboro 12% of children in Attleboro lived below the poverty level and 14% of children in Bristol County were food insecure. 48% of adults in Bristol Country reported food insecurity. That's almost 1/2 of all Bristol County adults without a steady income of food. Food insecurity is defined as not having steady access to enough food to live a healthy life.

My personal goal is to raise $500 to give to the AAIC to help them on their mission.