One in eight Coloradans, half of them being children, suffer from hunger daily. 17.2% of Colorado’s children are food insecure and each new day begins without knowing whether or not they will receive enough food to meet their basic needs.

In addition to hunger, the inaccessibility of food also develops brain abnormalities in children, which could later affect the opportunities to educate themselves and become a financially comfortable citizen in the future.

Here are a few ways you and your children can help:

1. The Big Give

The Big Give is an online charity project funded by the Reed Foundation. Through this website, you can search from 6,919 projects world-wide to help those in need. This site has options for everything from: helping the environment and animals to education. Through this foundation you can make a donation to a charity, learn how you can volunteer, educate yourself in the success stories, and those who still need your generous contribution. To learn more visit www.thebiggive.org.

This organization is especially special for Denver. Resort to Kindness, a 501 organization that strives to make a difference, kicks-off a BIG GIVE event for the 2011 Community Food Drive Benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies. The benefit goal is to raise $50,000 towards food for children throughout the month of October. Help the 17.2% of Colorado children with food insecurities at www.resort2kindess.org or www.foodbankrockies.org.

2. Help the Children

“Finding compassion, Giving love, Changing Lives.” This is the motto of a revolution. On top of the movement to stop child hunger, Help the Children is also known for helping disaster victims of wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and more.  Join their community to help all victims around the world at www.helpchildren.org.

3. How to spread the word to your children

Help your children understand child hunger with Lily, the new muppet on Sesame Street. She is a symbol for this nationwide struggle. Her story offers an optimistic view on how her community is helping her family survive due to economic hardship and this growing concern of hunger throughout the world. The hour-long introduction will be played Sunday on PBS. For more information, visit Sesame Street’s Food for Thought.

There are many other options to contributing to stop child hunger so don’t be afraid to research them. Help those in need and please don’t hesitate to donate your love to the future leaders of this planet.