You know it’s been a good summer when your work draws positive attention from the White House and the First Lady.
The Texas Hunger Initiative (THI), a collaborative effort anchored from within Baylor’s School of Social Work, was applauded this summer first on the website for Let’s Move!, an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama aimed at solving the problem of obesity, and later on an official White House blog for the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
As part of its effort to provide meals to the one-in-four Texas children who don’t get enough to eat each summer, THI began a summer food service program. Through partnerships with the Texas Department of Agriculture, the USDA’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and others, THI was able to increase meals served statewide by 2 million since last summer, the single largest increase in the country.
THI is housed in the School of Social Work’s Center for Family and Community Ministries. A partner of the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ Christian Life Commission, THI seeks to develop and implement strategies across the state that alleviate hunger through policy, education, community organizing, and community development. It is led by Baylor alum Jeremy Everett, MDiv ’01.
Sic ’em, Texas Hunger Initiative and Baylor’s School of Social Work!
