Texas Hunger Initiative
The Texas Hunger Initiative (THI) is a Waco-based, nonpartisan, non-profit, policy, infrastructure building, and community organizing project of Baylor University's School of Social Work committed to creating a food secure Texas by 2015.
Origin
The Texas Hunger Initiative was started in 2009 as partnership between Baylor University and the Christian Life Commission (a division of the Southern Baptist Convention, with which Baylor is affiliated) with funding from The Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. It has since expanded to include partnerships with the New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH), ConAgra Foods Foundation, and Share Our Strength. Their work has been featured on the White House website.
Leadership
Jeremy Everett is the Director of the Texas Hunger Initiative. He was the founder of Guadalupe Street CoFFEE, a social entrepreneurship venture, whose mission is to deal with the root causes of poverty in San Antonio's West Side through holistic community development approach. The coffee shop was developed in collaboration with the West Side community, Trinity Baptist Church, and other Baptist Community organizations. Simultaneously, Jeremy managed Guadalupe Street Coffee and served as Program Director of Community Ministries with Baptist Child and Family Services. Jeremy has worked for international and community development organizations as a teacher, religious leader, community organizer, fundraiser, and organic farmer. He has Delivered presentations to churches, non-profit organizations, universities, and seminaries on the subjects of poverty, community development and organizing, hunger, and social entrepreneurship. Jeremy earned a bachelor's degree from Samford University and a Master of Divinity from Baylor University.
Work
The Texas Hunger Initiative works in the following avenues:
- SNAP (formerly foodstamps) Outreach
- Breakfast in the Classroom
- Summer Nutrition Programs
- Community organizing
- Food Planning Associations
No Kid Hungry Campaign
The Texas Hunger Initiative has entered into a new partnership with Share our Strength as part of the “No Kid Hungry Campaign.” The four-year partnership provides $230,000 for 2011. Share our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign is a national effort to end food insecurity in children by 2015. The campaign seeks to connect needy children to the appropriate federal nutrition programs, strengthen and support hunger initiatives already in progress, and provide educational resources for hungry families. The Texas Hunger Initiative and Share our Strength hosted an official launch for the campaign on October 12th in Austin, Texas.