The culinary industry is one with a big appetite and a big heart. Restaurants across the nation have teamed up with the Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry campaign to raise funds and awareness to combat child hunger in the United States.   This month, participating restaurants will be raising funds for No Kid Hungry. The organization is pushing for 100 percent participation from top restaurant chains across the country.

Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry is a year-long program that operates on five levels. The Breakfast After the Bell and lunch programs help underprivileged students eat at school. George McKerrow, Co-founder of No Kid Hungry and CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill emphasizes how kids must be nourished to learn and excel in school. Students are given healthy fruits and vegetables to take home for nourishment in the Weekend Backpack program. The Summer and Holiday program provides students with meals when school is not in session and the Cooking Matters program teaches families in food deserts how to use public transportation to get to grocery stores and how to buy and prepare healthy food on a limited budget.

“Kids are the core of the health and well being of this country,” says McKerrow. “It is our job to nourish them so that they can do well in school and succeed in life. Feeding people is key in the restaurant industry, so this cause really resonates with me.”

Restaurants interested in joining the No Kid Hungry campaign can register at nokidhungry.org.