Here's the deal: Roses, champagne flutes, glittery gems and jewelry--all great. But these days, I'm all about a different kind of Valentine's Day: Red construction paper hearts, lopsided, and shaped by small hands wielding safety scissors, glue sticks, and glitter. Let's face it. Lopsided glitter glue has the power to melt hearts far and wide. What if we could use the power of Valentine's Day to stand up for kids and get Congress to focus on preschool and quality, affordable childcare? It turns out, we (you) can! *Click this link to see our super cool online valentine-creation-station and...

I just wanted to give you a quick, very happy update: S. 3307, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 passed Congress this afternoon! This comprehensive, historic legislation will help improve the nutritional quality of school lunches, get junk food out of school vending machines, and support strong nutrition and physical activity policies and practices in schools and child care settings. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (also known as the Child Nutrition Act) now goes to President Obama's desk and, according to the New York Times, he intends to sign it. [1] MomsRising members, like you, sent...

Tis the season for turkey, kitschy side dishes, and once-a-year meals. But, before the family festivities can start, there's one thing left to do: Tell Congress to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S.3307), a piece of legislation that could affect the meals our children eat every day. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act would make historic improvements in school and child care nutrition to address both childhood hunger and obesity. For the first time in 30 years we have a chance to improve school lunches across this country. But Congress may let this chance slip by. Children can't afford...

While the election is still being pondered by political pundits, real life goes on... including the struggle of real life parents to get affordable access to quality early care and education for their kids so they can get to work. But that struggle may get a lot tougher. In the next few weeks, Congress will be debating investments in early care and education (child care, preschool, HeadStart, etc.). During this debate, Congress will mainly be fighting over statistics--but our kids are more than numbers, and Congress needs more than statistics in order to get a real understanding of parenthood...

We’ve been talking about about the sad state of school lunches for years. But now we finally have a chance to start making school lunches more nutritious and more accessible. The U.S. Senate recently passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which is an update of the Child Nutrition Act. Now, to get this bill to the finish line, the U.S. House is our next step--and we have to act today. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307) needs to pass before Congress finally adjourns. Hungry kids can't wait. *Tell to your Representative pass a good child nutrition bill that improves access to healthy...

For the first time in over 30 years, we have a chance to overhaul school lunches in this country. Late last week, with the help of MomsRising members across the country, the U.S. Senate passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.[1] We’re halfway there! The U.S. House is our next step, and we have to move fast. We only have a few weeks before House members start focusing on winning re-election and forget about school lunches. We can’t let this opportunity to overhaul school lunches pass us by! So, we’re turbo-charging our campaign and bringing the important voices of moms forward in a big way...

It simply isn't right to take advantage of new parents when they're vulnerable. But baby formula companies are doing just that. And this is especially wrong because empty infant formula advertising claims undermine evidence-based messages like "breastfeeding is best for babies." This has got to be fixed, and we have a chance right now to change the way these infant formula companies and other food manufacturers do business so that parents get the facts, and not just empty hype on labels. “All parents want what's best for their babies, and we want them to feel empowered to make an informed...

Less than two weeks ago, the New York Times reported that more and more moms are losing their jobs and turning to welfare for one shocking reason: They simply can't afford to work. Can't afford to work?! How could that be? Well, it turns out that too often the high cost of childcare is more than the pay that moms bring home. It's a catch-22. Many modern families now need the wages of two breadwinners to put food on the table. “It’s a blow to my own self-image and self-worth as a person who can take care of myself,” explains a mom in Tuscon. “I’m totally able, physically and intellectually, to...

Nearly 17 million U.S. children (almost 1 out of every 4 children) faced hunger at some point last year. That is a staggering statistic. But for MomsRising member Yvonne, it's much more personal: "My sister, the mother of 2 preschoolers, has track marks up and down her arms. Last July both she and her husband lost their jobs. Although they applied for every job they saw, she didn't find a job until late November--and then only a part-time one. My brother-in-law still hasn't found one. The track marks? My sister, my wonderful sister, gives plasma several times a week, earning $25 each time, in...