PHOTO: Food Bank of the Rockies promotes volunteerism among children

Food Bank of the Rockies recently launched the Kung Food Fighters Kids Club for Colorado children and youth interested in fighting hunger. The free online club, which targets children 4 and over, launched in late May after about two years of planning. Currently, there are about 35 members and organizers hope that number will reach 100 in the next few months.

Gwen Vogelzang, media and public relations manager at the food bank, said the idea arose after the organization was repeatedly forced to turn away families interested in volunteering because children under 14 aren’t permitted to work in the warehouse. With the help of cartoon canned good mascots “Chop Louie” and “Chop Suey,” the club offers games, videos and activities to raise awareness about hunger. There are also kid-friendly ideas for supporting anti-hunger efforts, such as donating proceeds from a lemonade stand to the food bank or organizing a food drive.

“It has tons of ideas that will get their hands into the mix,” said Vogelzang.

In addition to online resources, members of Kung Food Fighters can win prizes by sharing photos, videos or stories of their hunger-fighting activities through the club’s blog or on YouTube. Members can also arrange kid-oriented tours of the food bank’s Denver or Palisade locations and attend occasional parties sponsored by the club. In the fall, Vogelzang hopes to expand the club into schools.