Talk About It ... We have a lot of myths about hunger. Learn the facts www.worldhunger.org, then start a conversation with your children in the grocery store as you pick up items for your local food shelf or begin a collection in your community.

• Ask your children about their view of a hungry person. They may have a few stereotypes. Let them know that in the U.S., children make up nearly 40% of all emergency food clients, and another 20% are elderly Americans. Plus, nearly 40% of all households served by food banks include someone who has a job, but they still need assistance.
• Discuss the importance of good nutrition. Even very young children can understand that we need certain foods to keep us healthy, and that some people aren't getting what they require. (Research indicates that if young children experience even mild undernutrition during critical periods of growth, it may affect their physical growth and brain development.)
• Ask your child for ideas about helping the hungry. Listen carefully and see how you might implement some of them, showing your excitement all the while. For more ideas, visit www.kidscanmakeadifference.org.

Learn About It ... For children in middle and high school, a must-read is Soul Moon Soup by Lindsay Lee Johnson. It is the story of Phoebe Rose, who becomes homeless, along with her mother, after her father leaves. "In these pages I hope readers find the courage to connect with people around them who may need something they can give," says the author. For more books on homelessness and hunger, visit the resources page of our website.

Photo: Soul Moon Soup

"Hunger will be eliminated when people come together to help each other. People need to take an active role in changing politics and society, but first, they need to change themselves and their own hearts."

Tony P. Hall, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture

You can't blame twins Casey and Rachel Christensen for the ruckus that pervades their Farmington, Minn., home the first Wednesday of every month. These 5- year-olds have a serious mission. First thing, they look out the door to see which houses on their block have put out bags of groceries. The children and their mom, Amee, then drive through the neighborhood to pick up the donations for their local food shelf. The twins are especially thrilled when they spot a bag from a neighbor who has never donated before, or when someone contributes large, bulk-size items.

The family is part of a new initiative in Dakota County called Project FoodStock, which seeks to keep county food shelves well stocked. The project was started by Amee, her husband, Jeff, and her sister and brother-in- law, Liz and Chad Caswell, less than a year ago. Already it has volunteers like the Christensens who collect from more than a dozen neighborhoods.

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Photo: Twins Casey and Rachel Christensen