I have only ever experienced Washington D.C from a tourist’s perspective. Every time I’ve visited I’ve been to countless historical monuments and nationally renowned museums, but I have never experienced the professional side of the city.
I went through one day of formal training where our No Kid Hungry team learned about Share Our Strength and its mission and how we could contribute in our home towns. It was eye-opening as to the sheer magnitude of people who care so much about ending childhood hunger in America. On our second day, we spent the whole time on “The Hill.” We spoke with our representatives and senators and explored the government buildings in between meetings.
This day really showed me that childhood hunger is not an issue divided by party lines, but a human issue that all of our elected officials care about. On our last day, we regrouped and broke down the day before: our experiences, our highlights, our let-downs, and anything else, all while sharing some doughnuts.
I left the training feeling more prepared than ever to not only continue the fight against childhood hunger but be able to genuinely talk about it in a knowledgeable way. Helping people is my passion, and having the training to provide me with statistics and facts to support that passion is more than I could have ever expected out of a simple job training.
Lily Quirk
No Kid Hungry Youth Ambassador