Poverty robs children of their childhoods
- Children who live in poverty are more likely to start school significantly behind their peers and never catch up
- Child hunger is worse in rural America, where child poverty is more persistent
- Save the Children works to fill critical gaps in early learning across rural America's most impoverished communities

11 million children live in poverty, including 1 in 7 children of color

Rural child poverty rates are higher than urban areas in 40 states

Save the Children works in more than 300 of rural America’s most impoverished communities
Jennifer Garner talks about her mission with Save the Children to help the community in Perry County, Kentucky, still on the road to recovery more than a year after historic flooding. She then surprises students with a donation from Scholastic. NBC’s Cynthia McFadden reports for TODAY on effort to improve the lives school kids impacted by the disaster.
Geographic isolation, lack of transportation, and limited access to stores with fresh food are making it very difficult for many rural families to give their children the nutritious meals they need to grow and develop.
Existing child hunger solutions are not fully addressing the unique challenges families and communities are facing.
Save the Children has been working in Kentucky’s rural communities since 1932, providing support to children and families most impacted by poverty and inequality.
This past year, Save the Children has been working to meet the most urgent – and the long-term – needs of children living in some of the areas hardest hit by the flooding in eastern Kentucky where learning was interrupted for thousands of children for several weeks.
We know all too well how a hungry child cannot be hungry for knowledge. That’s why we are committed to combatting child hunger across rural America, collaborating with partners to ensure children have the nutritious food they need to keep their bellies full and their minds actively learning. Your donation supports this critical work to help children survive and thrive.
Education Is a Proven Ladder Out of Poverty
Save the Children knows that early learning opportunities are so critical for children, regardless of their family's income. That’s why, with your help, we work in more than 300 of rural America’s most impoverished communities, where we’re often the only child-focused nonprofit.
Save the Children designs, staffs and delivers high-quality early childhood education programs that prepare children for kindergarten, foster parent-school connections and empower parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher.
We build communities' early childhood knowledge and resources through home visits, educational activities, book exchanges, parent support groups and help with transitioning from home to preschool, and beyond.
Join us in giving children growing up in poverty in America the opportunity for a brighter future
Your continued support is needed now more than ever to keep this important work going.
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