The Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) has ignited a wave of acclaim by nominating Caring For Kids of Cape May County for a prestigious honor. This nomination led to Caring for Kids receiving the esteemed Losos Prize for Innovation at the 2024 Parents as Teachers International Conference in San Diego, CA.
Caring for Kids, an affiliate of Parents as Teachers, has been celebrated for its pioneering efforts in addressing food insecurities in New Jersey communities. Their innovative “Operation of a Choice Food Pantry” has made a significant impact in reducing food insecurity in their neighborhood, earning them this well-deserved accolade.
As an affiliate, Caring for Kids uses the Parents as Teachers evidence-based home visiting model to help young parents build parenting skills during a child’s earliest years, from pre-natal through kindergarten.
Jessica Arends, CFBNJ’s network engagement specialist, commended Caring For Kids for their unwavering commitment to improving the well-being of children and families. She emphasized the impact of their innovative approach, which allows individuals to select their groceries, empowering them and fostering a sense of community and solidarity.
“Thanks to the dedication and foresight of Caring For Kids, families facing food insecurity now have access to nutritious options, marking a significant positive change in the community,” said Arends. “This recognition not only honors Caring For Kids’ outstanding work but also serves as an inspiration for others to follow in their footsteps.”
Arends also said that the Caring For Kids pantry has become a hub for social interaction and support in the Cape May County community. Families there not only receive nourishment for their bodies but find solace and connection in the shared experience of accessing essential resources together. They also provide recipes to each family to ensure that the food provided is used in the most effective way possible.
The Losos Prize, the most prestigious designation granted by Parents as Teachers, was created in 2006, and named in honor of longtime supporter and former Parents as Teachers board chair, Carolyn Losos. It acknowledges organizations that have demonstrated exceptional innovation and service delivery in addressing the needs of their community.
Parents as Teachers President and CEO Constance Gully, said Caring For Kids’ creativity and innovation align with the vision of Parents as Teachers, emphasizing the transformative power of compassion and solidarity in creating strong, thriving communities.
Moreover, Caring For Kids’ outstanding work has earned them a $5,000 grant to further support their activities, along with complimentary registration and travel to the four-day conference in San Diego. The conference featured insightful discussions on home visiting, community engagement, diversity, and child education, under the theme Born to learn – Power of the Past – Building for the Future.
“We are honored to bestow the Losos Prize on Caring For Kids because this organization has enhanced its existing service delivery needs in a new or innovative way,” said Gully. “It also affirms that Caring For Kids is among the highest quality members of the home visitation and parent education field who has completed the Parents as Teachers quality endorsement and improvement process.”
Parents as Teachers creates strong communities, thriving families, and healthy, safe learning children by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals for regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years, from pregnancy through kindergarten. With nearly 180,000 families served in all 50 U.S. states, 115 tribal organizations, six other countries, and one U.S. territory, Parents as Teachers evidence-based home visiting model is backed by 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families.
Staffers from Caring for Kids (center three) accepts Losos Prize for Innovation from Patricia Kempthorne, former Parents as Teachers board chair (left) and Constance Gully, Parents as Teachers president and CEO, and board member Suzy Gibson (far right).