Children Throw a Party to End Hunger

Ocean County Youth will be activated to take on the issue of childhood hunger during Global Youth Services Day this Friday.

Toms River Youth Services is addressing the issue by hosting a unique food collection drive. They’re hosting a “Pantry Rock Dance Party” at the Ocean County Hunger Relief Warehouse. Division Manager Adam Silversmith says children attending the party are being asked to provide a nonperishable food item for admission.

Silversmith says the children who are helping to plan the event are really learning how hunger affects their peers right here at home. “Just some numbers here, one out of every three people that are receiving the emergency food are children and according to the Ocean County Hunger Relief, 50 percent of the people they serve are children.”

Silversmith says they were one out of 77 groups across the country that received a $500 grant from the Sodexo Foundation and Youth Services of America to put on the event. “It’s a youth lead project that helps to reduce childhood hunger in America and at the same time the grant winners with us will educate and mobile the other kids to help with this issue.”

He says they’ll be using the money to print out fliers for adults and purchasing pizza and ice tea for the party.

Up to 100 children ages 6 to 13 can attend the party that runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Warehouse on 21 Germania Station Road in Toms River (Between Mule Road and B.J.’s.)

Parents need to call Toms River Youth Services to register at 732-341-1000 ext 8436 by Wednesday April 17. They only have room for 100 kids.

Get more information about Global Youth Services Day at http://gysd.org/