OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On World Food Day, Oct. 16, Feed the Children, a global movement working to end child hunger, is sharing “It All Begins with Food”—a World Food Day awareness effort built on the words of children themselves. Daniela in El Salvador, Halima in Tanzania, Andrew in the Philippines and Bodi in the United States each describe, in their own words, who they hope to become. Their voices are central to Feed the Children’s World Food Day observance, appearing across feedthechildren.org, social content and more. The reality behind these stories is urgent: according to UNICEF, one in four children under age 5 worldwide is living in severe child food poverty—181 million children who don’t have reliable access to the nutritious food they need to grow, learn and thrive.

Food is the starting point for everything a child can become. When children eat consistently and well, they show up to school ready to learn, they grow into their potential and they begin to imagine and pursue futures that are entirely their own. That’s what World Food Day, observed each year on Oct. 16, calls the world to recognize: food isn’t just sustenance—it’s the foundation of possibility.

“No child should go to bed hungry. No child. Anywhere,” said Emily Callahan, president and CEO of Feed the Children. “When children have enough to eat, they show up to school, they stay healthy and they start building the futures they deserve. Ending child hunger is possible—but only if we do it together.”

Children Share What Food Makes Possible

Daniela is 9 years old and wants to be a police officer in El Salvador—someone who protects her country and looks out for her family. Half a world away in Tanzania, 12-year-old Halima wants to become a journalist, determined to tell the stories of her village to the world. In the Philippines, 10-year-old Andrew channels a love of math and problem-solving into a dream of becoming an engineer. And in the United States, 9-year-old Bodi is already imagining a future shaped by his love of soccer.

Each child’s story reflects countless others across the communities Feed the Children works alongside. Their words speak for themselves. “Food is important to be a good athlete,” says Bodi. Andrew is just as direct: “I like eating at school because I get to eat good food with my classmates.” In Tanzania, when Halima’s family’s sweet potato harvest fell short, Feed the Children worked alongside her community to strengthen nutrition while advancing Livelihoods & Resilience programming. The experience helped shape the future she imagines for herself. “I want to study hard, tell the stories of our village, and show how we can achieve great things together,” she says.

Why This Moment Matters

The scale of the challenge is clear. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, an estimated 645 million people faced hunger in 2025. In the U.S., up to 40% of the food supply goes to waste each year, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—a stark reminder of how much inequity exists within our food system and how much more is possible when communities, partners and donors work together. The data is striking, but the conclusion isn’t hopelessness. It’s urgency.

Scale of Reach, Depth of Impact

In fiscal year 2025, Feed the Children distributed nearly 78 million meals to nearly 15 million people spanning almost every U.S. state and eight countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and the Philippines.

This October, the organization is celebrating the opening of two new Feed the Children Food & Essentials Hub locations: School of Dreams Academy Charter School in Los Lunas, New Mexico and Mater Academy of Nevada East Campus in Las Vegas. The program works directly with school districts to provide students with food, essential household items, personal care products, books and school supplies throughout the school year.

Program-wide in fiscal year 2026, Feed the Children Food & Essentials Hubs reached more than 154,900 students and 58,600 households across 834 schools in 11 states—providing more than 686,000 meals and more than $6.7 million in food, essentials, books and school supplies. The results speak to what consistent access makes possible: 87% of participating school districts reported improvements in student confidence and attendance, and nearly two-thirds of caregivers said the program helped reduce the need to cut or skip meals for their children.

This World Food Day, Feed the Children invites supporters to explore and read the stories of children whose own words are at the heart of “It All Begins with Food” because when children have the food and support they need most today, they can begin to imagine who they will become tomorrow. Together, we can help create a world where no child goes to bed hungry.

About Feed the Children

Feed the Children is a global movement working to end childhood hunger in the U.S. and around the world. Together with communities, the organization provides food, essentials and opportunities to children and families who need them most so every child can survive and thrive. Learn more at feedthechildren.org.

Create a world where no child goes to bed hungry.

Media Contact: Richard Presser | Feed the Children | 405-247-0345 | Richard.Presser@feedthechildren.org

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SOURCE Feed the Children