Poverty forces families to make impossible choices
- Every day, parents across the U.S. are deciding between essentials—books or bread, gas or groceries—just to survive
- Children who live in poverty are more likely to start school significantly behind their peers and never catch up
- 91²Ö¿â works to fill critical gaps in early learning across rural America's most impoverished communities
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11 million children live in poverty, including 1 in 7 children of color
Rural child poverty rates are higher than urban areas in 40 statesÌý
91²Ö¿â works in more than 300 of rural America’s most impoverished communities
Join us: Give children growing up in poverty the opportunity for a brighter future
91²Ö¿â knows that early learning opportunities are so critical for children, regardless of their family's income. That’s why, with your help, we work in more than 300 of rural America’s most impoverished communities, where we’re often the only child-focused nonprofit.
91²Ö¿â designs, staffs and delivers high-quality early childhood education programs that prepare children for kindergarten,Ìýfoster parent-school connections and empower parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher.Ìý 
We build communities' early childhood knowledge and resources through home visits, educational activities, book exchanges, parent support groups and help with transitioning from home to preschool, and beyond.  We're also working to ensure that children have access to nourishing food – the fuel they need to learn and thrive.ÌýÌýSince the start of the COVID pandemic, we have helped provide more than 45 million meals to children and families.
Your continued support is needed now more than ever to keep this important work going. Donate today or join our political advocacy arm - —to fight for stronger food aid programs.ÌýTell Congress: 153 million children are going hungry. Build a better Farm Bill today!ÌýÌý
Our team works across rural America to help ensure kids have access to the food they need to thrive.
91²Ö¿â knows all too well how a hungry child cannot be hungry for knowledge.ÌýThat’s why we are committed to combatting child hunger across rural America, collaborating with partners to ensure children have the nutritious food they need to keep their bellies full and their minds actively learning.ÌýYour donation supports this critical work to help children survive and thrive.
Together withÌýMountaineer Food BankÌýand DoorDash, 91²Ö¿â ensures that families in rural West Virginia have the food they need delivered right to their door. This home delivery service (aÌýpartnership through our Rural Child Hunger Innovation Lab) removes the stigma of visiting food banksÌýand ensures that families that may not have transportation orÌýare otherwise homeboundÌýare not left behind.Ìý
In Kentucky's rural communities,Ìýwhere 91²Ö¿â has been working since 1932, we're providing support to children and families most impacted by poverty and inequality.Ìý
This past year, 91²Ö¿â has been working to meet the most urgent – and the long-term – needs of children living in some of the areas hardest hit by the flooding in eastern Kentucky where learning was interrupted for thousands of children for several weeks.