This year, FOCUS North America provided back-to-school support and nutritious meals to more than 193,000 homeless and disadvantaged children in 28 cities across the nation. FOCUS Advisory Board member Theodora Polamalu and her husband Troy know how important healthy nutrition is for children. “Troy, being a professional athlete, understands how diet can affect optimal results both on a physical level and on a mental level,” says Mrs. Polamalu. “We recognize how important nutrition is, especially in the life of a child who is growing and developing. If our children were to go hungry it would significantly impact them in a way that would be very detrimental to their future and their behavior.”
FOCUS works in conjunction with public school districts nationwide to identify and support children who often go home to empty cupboards. Through our backpack feeding program, FOCUS provides meals to children who would otherwise go hungry. There are thousands of families living paycheck-to-paycheck who often struggle to feed their children. The recent cut in the federal food stamp program has only made matters worse.
“It’s not just handing out food to those who need it most,” says FOCUS Executive Director Nicholas Chakos. “We are building relationships and facilitating a support network that enables children and families to be successful in school and in life.”
