Here’s Hope: My Belief We Can Fight Child Hunger

October 1, 2012 by 18 Comments

My small girl is in third grade.  She has a little brother she adores; most of the time.  They fight like most siblings do, but if you were to ask her what her about ‘rule #1′, she’ll look you firmly in the eye and say, ‘Keep Coopy safe’.  One of these days, it won’t be ‘cool’ for her to call him ‘Coopy’, but for now, I can tell he loves that she has a special name for him.  And? He loves her.

In their sweet and sheltered world keeping him safe means getting him an ice pack when he hits his head, reminding him to pack a snack for school, including him when her friends are around, putting an arm around him during the ‘scary part’ of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and offering the evil eye to anyone who dares to comment on his longer blond hair with anything but admiration.

She doesn’t have to sacrifice a portion of her dinner so her brother can eat. She doesn’t take care of him while I or my husband work two jobs to make sure there is food in our home.  Hunger isn’t a problem they know. And for this, I am grateful.  But I’m also deeply aware of food insecurity and how it effects so many children in our country.

I was reminded of this again tonight by something so simple: a song.  Back in April, I was lucky enough to hear country music artists Little Big Town perform the song Here’s Hope live at the Academy of Country Music Awards. They performed the song during the Lifting Lives Moment – bringing awareness to the epidemic of Child Hunger right here in the United States. I spent time on the Red Carpet at the ACM’s asking artists about the power of hope and music and the beauty of LBT singing this song.  I also interviewed Hunter Hayes, the artist who wrote the song about WHY this song resonates as it does.

One in five children are hungry.

I will say it again: 1 in 5 children are hungry.

Tonight, I stumbled across this video on YouTube. As I had HOPED they would, Little Big Town has recorded their version of the song.  And it is magic. I sat with my small people tonight, crying (yes, I did) and listening to it over and over again.

In the second verse…. “There’s a small town girl in the third grade, makin’ sure that her sister gets enough… ”  I looked first to my small girl and then to my small dude and my heart broke a little, for what we have, for what other children don’t and with gratitude that we can help.

For the better part of the past four years, I have worked with Con Agra Foods and their program Child Hunger Ends Here, and while I’m not in the midst of a campaign at the moment, I feel compelled to share this video with you…. I hope you can take a few minutes to get lost in its beauty, to absorb its message.

Maybe it will inspire you to donate a few dollars to your local food bank, to start a food drive at your children’s school, to fill backpacks for a local program, or simply to pass it on.

The inspiration behind ‘Here’s Hope’ is just that – hope that we can make a difference, even a little bit at a time.

Thank you for joining me.  I’m grateful.  And somewhere there is a 3rd grader who is as well.

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Hunter Hayes talks ACM’s and Writing “Here’s Hope” for Child Hunger

April 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’ve always believed it is one of my primary responsibilities to teach my kids to ‘give back’…. to understand that there are people, kids especially,  who have greater needs than them.  Some kids don’t have toys, or clothes…. and they don’t have enough food.  A few years ago, my small people and I held a Lemonade Stand to raise money for Child Hunger.  I was so proud of how they embraced the project.

I suspect emerging Country superstar and Academy of Country Music New Artist of the Year Nominee, Hunter Hayes was rasied with the same type of empathy because when asked to join Con Agra Food’s Child Hunger Ends Here Campagin, he didn’t hesitate.

In fact… the song that is the crux of the campaign, “Here’s Hope” is what Hunter calls his “1/2 hour song” since it  took barely longer than that for he, Barry Dean and Luke Laird to write it.

While at the ACM’s in Las Vegas, Hunter and I sat down to chat about writing the song and how it feels to be nominated as ‘ACM New Artist of the Year’.

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ACM Bound

March 31, 2012 by 3 Comments

So, here I go.

On my way to Las Vegas.  Set for the Red Carpet at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Despite my endless flights of panic this week, the fears that things might not fall into place (including the last minute stress of an en route dress that I was certain would never arrive – but did) I am taking one breath at a time and attempting to absorb this experience.

I will confess….wrapped tightly within my uber-excitement is a ball of nervous energy.  This feels like a marathan I have been training for.  Except I’ve been training my entire adult life and someone finally said, ‘Run!’.

So, here I go.  Running.  And I’m thrilled beyond anything I can express.  And determined to make every portion of this experience count.

My flight left before 6 am this morning and my day promises to continue for the better part of the next 20 hours. I have a full schedule even before my 9am hair and make up appointment tomorrow morning.  Which, incidentally, was the LAST appointment available and is about 5 hours before my silver-clad tootsies step on to that Red Carpet.

What does today include?  OH MY HEAVENS….TODAY!

I trust you know WHY I’m going to the Academy of Country Music Awards, yes?  I first talked about it here.  But as a quick refresher: during the ACM’s, there is a beautiful charitable segment called the Lifting Lives Moment where a special cause is highlighted.  This year, Child Hunger Ends Here, an effort championed by Con Agra Foods, is the focus.  A song co-written by 20 year old ACM New Artist of the Year Nominee, Hunter Hayes, will be performed by Little Big Town.

The song is called ‘Here’s Hope’.  It is gorgeous.  You can hear it on the Child Hunger Ends Here site.

When I arrive in Las Vegas, I will be attending Little Big Town’s rehearsal for their ACM performance of ‘Here’s Hope’.

Giddy.

And then?

I will be sitting down with Hunter Hayes to chat with him about the thrill of being nominated as ACM New Artist of the Year, and well, a few dozen other questions.  I kid.  Sort of.

Also?  If you attended Blissdom, you may have received one of these books, Amy Giggles, written by Coy Bowles of the Zac Brown Band.  I’m ALSO going to be sitting down with Coy this afternoon to talk to him about his book and his charitable efforts with kids.

The book is delightful.

I can’t wait to share all of the video with you.

Whew.

I *should* be tired thinking about it.

But, I’m not.  I’m still pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

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