Now in its fifth year, the Montana Youth Leadership Council met last Friday to develop projects addressing childhood hunger during Fight Childhood Hunger Week next April 8-14, 2019. Over 50 applications were received, and 20 members were selected to represent middle and high schools in 19 different communities across Montana.

First Lady Lisa Bullock attended the meeting with student representatives at the Capitol Building in Helena. "I commend you for reaching out and being here to help us," Bullock stated while shedding heartfelt tears of gratitude. "Young minds are brilliant, and your insight is incredibly valuable to us."

Over the last two years, the council has been served by two Thompson Falls seventh-grade students. Anna Pallister served for the 2017-2018 year and this year Hattie Neesvig will be serving.

Pallister raised awareness when she successfully organized a dog agility contest and raffle to support the local food bank. Neesvig is in the planning stage and is working with the Governor's Office of Community Service to develop a project to feed hungry children.

Neesvig stated that she is leaning toward having a 5K fun run where 100 percent of the registration fees with go toward feeding local children. She is also planning to raffle off a quilt and ask local businesses to participate in WOW (Wear Orange Wednesday) raising awareness of childhood hunger. All events will take place during April's Fight Childhood Hunger Week.

In Helena, youth council members spent 6 hours at the same table where Montana governors have made decisions affecting Montanans for over 100 years. The students listened to a guest speaker who had experienced hunger and how important it was for her to receive help from programs to get back on her feet. Montana's No Kid Hungry Director Lisa Lee presented information about the problem Montana faces with feeding their children, what programs and assistance they are responsible for implementing, and that hunger is a solvable problem.

The students also took part in a poverty simulation experience where they had been given a real-life financial crisis scenario where they had to apply for benefits and purchase food for their families. Young council members expressed they were "frustrated" and felt "hopeless" while they were turned away time and time again because they either did not qualify or did not have the application filled out properly. In most cases, the council members were unable to provide food for their families.

In all, 17 percent (1 in 6) of Montana kids are hungry, which is an improvement from last year's 1 in 5, proving that feeding Montana's hungry children is indeed solvable. Within the entire state, Mineral and Sanders counties have some of the highest rates of childhood hunger where 25-29 percent of kids are hungry, according to the Serve Montana, Governor's Office of Community Service.

"Childhood hunger is an important issue for my husband and me," Bullock commented. "Too many Montanans experience it firsthand. It is inspiring to see young people like these students take the initiative to fight childhood hunger and ensure that kids in Montana get the food that they need to be healthy, happy and successful."

Council members for 2018-2019 are Deidra Beads Don't Mix, Crow Agency, 12th grade, Erika Hernandez (Hardin, 12th), Katie Kaiser (Glasgow, 12th), Taylor Olsen (Charlo, 12th), Leif Clark (Butte, 12th), Brielle Aklestad (Galata, 11th), Kelsyn Lohr (Shelby, 11th), Hank Rugg (Missoula, 11th), Jon Hertz (Billings, 11th), Kaylee Yeager (Miles City, 11th), Nina Friedman (Whitefish, 11th), Riley Gilsdorf (Billings, 10th), Elaina Patten (Helena, 10th), Cheyenne Farris (Baker, 9th), Sidney DeLong (Hamilton, 9th), Ruby West (Bozeman, 8th), Elaina Keast (St. Ignatius, 8th), Gabrielle Higbee (Glendive, 8th), Kaitlyn Miller (Nashua, 8th) and Hattie Neesvig (Trout Creek, 7th).