Tag Archive: danny keith

Jan
11

KZSC 88.1 does an interview with Grind Out Hunger Founder Danny Keith

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KZSC 88.1

Grind Out Hunger founder, Danny Keith and Grind Out Hunger Program Coordinator, Shawn Hatjes were invited by Melissa Stone to join her on her morning radio show on KZSC. They spoke about the Grind Out Hunger program, how it began and where it is going. The radio show along with info about the Grind Out Hunger program can be found below.

KZSC 88.1

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With 1 in 4 children going food insecure in Santa Cruz County and over 55,000 people a month needing emergency food support, Grind Out Hunger in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is doing everything it can to “educate and involve the community to end hunger and malnutrition”. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County distributes over 700,000 pounds of food per month with over half being fresh fruit and produce through 200 member agencies and food for children distributions.

Grind Out Hunger was created through the vision of skateboarders helping kids overcome hunger. Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop founded Grind Out Hunger with the goal of inspiring kids to help kids; Danny Keith mentions “by going directly to the schools and talking with the kids, it has a huge impact.” Grind Out Hunger is an educational piece challenging local elementary, middle and high schools to raise food and money for hungry children in the community. Since the inception of Grind Out Hunger the youth of Santa Cruz County has collected over 1 million pounds of food for working poor families and children.

“The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they – at some distant point in the future – will take over the reigns. Yet the fact is that the society is not running itself nicely… because the rest of us need all the energy, brains, imagination and talent that young people can bring to bear down on our difficulties. For society to attempt to solve its desperate problems without the full participation of even very young people is imbecile.”quote by Alvin Toffler

Shawn Hatjes, Danny Keith and Melissa Stone on KZSC 88.1 Conciliation Sunday

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Jan
04

“If You Can’t Feed a Hundred People, Just Feed One.”

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Hey Everyone! Shawn here…

I woke up this morning, not wanting to get out of bed, so comfortable under my blankets. After laying there for a bit it finally hit me that we have officially entered 2012. A New Year. My thoughts started to take me back several years ago when I was in middle school,  living on a diet of Top Ramen for about a month and living in a 1 room studio apartment with my Mom and Sister. I remember feeling like my life was never going to get better, like I was stuck in a dark place where light was unable to reach.
With the help of family and friends I was able to get out of that tough period in my life and turn things around, but it wasn’t without a great deal of self motivation and the courage to fight.

Now, years later, I am working in the non-profit world thinking of every possible way to help those that are currently in the situation that I used to be in. I know that I have the power to make a difference. I know i have the power to change the world, but I also know that I can’t do it alone.

Grind Out Hunger is first and foremost about empowering the youth, helping them realize that they CAN make a difference in the world around them. What kids and adults need to realize is that every act of kindness, no matter how small, is significant. Not only does it leave you feeling good, but it feeds hope. The hope that might be fading within the minds of those going through a tough time. This small bit of hope that each of us has the power to spread is all it takes to pick someone up and change their life.

I found this quote earlier today that is going to help me get my message across:

Not everyone can donate hundreds of dollars. Not everyone has the time to volunteer hours and hours at a non-profit. This does not mean that you can not make a significant impact on someones life. Dont feel like your quarter or your dollar donation is insignificant. We can’t walk around with the mind set that others are going to fix problems of hunger, malnutrition, homelessness for us. We cant rely on others to change the world. WE have to be the CHANGE and the only way that this can happen is if we fight this war together.

I’m forming an army of Hunger Fighters. I need YOUR help.

If you want to become a Hunger Fighter email me by clicking my name: SHAWN HATJES
OR fill out a volunteer inquiry at this link:  http://grindouthunger.org/volunteer/

If you have the ability to donate money to the cause please click the button below.


If you are a kid and don’t have the ability to donate online, please shoot me an email and we can talk about how you can get your donation to Grind Out Hunger.

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Dec
07

New Brighton Middle School Kickoff Presentation

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Before walking into a school to do a presentation, we always check to see how many pounds that particular school raised last year. When we saw that New Brighton Middle School had only raised about 230 pounds, we knew that this was the year to get these kids fired up. Danny took the stage and quickly settled the kids down so they would hear the message he was about to get across to them. He explained the basics, $1=3 pounds of food, 55,000 people in Santa Cruz County are food insecure with half being kids, and that it is the youth of Santa Cruz that needs to step up and fight this war against hunger.

Danny emphasized the symbolism of the Grind Out Hunger Wristband during his presentation. He explained that everyone that wears a wristband is showing their community that they are a “Hunger Fighter”.

He amped the kids up by asking 2 simple questions:

“Are you the type of school that lets your friends go hungry?” The kids screamed… “NO”
“Can the New Brighton Vikings be Hunger Fighters?” The kids erupted… “YES”

Near the end of the presentation we could see that some of the kids were getting restless, were they getting the message? Or getting bored?
As Danny was explaining that $1 can provide 4 healthy meals, kids began to raise their hands, not because they had questions but because the wanted to hand over their lunch money as donations. Hands were popping up all over the room with cash clenched in hand. Kids were emptying their pockets handing us quarters, nickels, dimes, and dollar bills. They ended up raising $80 by the end of the presentation that morning. That’s equivalent to 240 pounds of food! Within a 5 minute window the students of New Brighton had already beat their previous year’s number.

We have no doubt that they will hit their 3,000 pound goal this year.

If you would like to donate online you can have it directed to New Brighton’s food drive but following the link below and selecting your donation to “New Brighton Middle School”

Want to listen to Danny Keith’s presentation at New Brighton Middle School?
Play the Youtube vid below to listen. (Audio only)


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Dec
05

Danny Keith Receives United Way Community Hero Award

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Danny Keith being handed his Community Hero Award

Grind Out Hunger founder, Danny Keith received the United Way Community Hero award for the year of 2011. Danny was presented this award under the category of “Health”, recognizing his efforts and accomplishments as the founder of Grind Out Hunger.

Grind Out Hunger was born out of the Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop in 2003, when Danny realized by the fact that 1:8 kids were food insecure in Santa Cruz County. As of 2008 that number has jumped to 1:4 kids within Santa Cruz County being food insecure. Danny, with the youth by his side, put his beloved Skate and Surf Shop in the hands of his son Zane and will do everything he can to fight this war against childhood hunger. Grind Out Hunger  has collectively raised 800,000 pounds through the youth of Santa Cruz County. With a goal of 500,000 pounds for this holiday food drive season, Grind Out Hunger will pass the 1 Million pound mark by the new year.

When it come to Grind Out Hunger, Danny claims himself to be the “clown on duty”.  He believes that this community hero award is for all of the students and youth that have stepped up to fight child hunger within Santa Cruz County.

Equipped with a 60 foot semi trailer full of skateboard ramps, skateboard decks, trucker hats, pins and Grind Out Hunger fighter bracelets, it is apparent that Danny Keith is taking this battle seriously in the war on childhood hunger.

A big congrats to Danny Keith and all of the youth that have stepped up to help Grind Out Hunger. Look for Grind Out hunger to continue it’s push into the nation with collaborative food drives and fund raising for other Food Banks around the country. 2012 is going to be a big year!



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Nov
07

Santa Cruz Montessori Visits Second Harvest Food Bank

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Many of you know that the Grind Out Hunger crew offers to give a presentation to schools all around Santa Cruz County, but did you know that we also offer tours of the Second Harvest Food Bank Facility? Check it out!

Last Thursday we had a group of about 25 kids from Santa Cruz Montessori visit Second Harvest Food Bank for a tour!
When the kids arrived we greeted them out front and introduced our team. Once the introductions were done we directed the kids into our large conference room where they all took a seat and listened to a presentation about Second Harvest Food Bank by our Senior Outreach & Education Manager, Joel Campos. He showed them a quick slideshow as well as answered a few questions the kids had.
Once the presentation was over Grind Out Hunger founder, Danny Keith, took the kids on a tour of the facility.The kids got to meet Second Harvest’s CEO, Willy Elliott-McCrea as well as Brooke Johnson, our Chief Operations & Programs Officer.
We took a stroll through the warehouse where the kids were able to see forklifts in action, moving, weighing, and packing food to be distributed out to the community.
At the end of the tour we all took a seat out front under the sun and Danny Keith gave them a quick presentation about the Grind Out Hunger program and ideas of different ways they could raise money and food donations for their Grind Out Hunger food drive.
They were such a great group of kids, very attentive and full of great questions and comments.

We just got a message today saying that the donation barrels at Santa Cruz Montessori need to be replaced be cause they are full!!!
New barrels are on their way! We cant wait to see how many pounds these kids raise! The definitely have the spirit!

Good Luck with the rest of your food drive Santa Cruz Montessori!

Joel Campos talking to the kids about Second Harvest Food Bank.

Brooke Johnson talking to the kids about what she does at Second Harvest Food Bank.

Willy Elliott-McCrea talking facts to the kids. Did you know 1:4 kids are food insecure?

Danny Keith showing the kids around the Second Harvest Warehouse

Wrapping up the tour with a little Grind Out Hunger presentation.


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Nov
04

Grind Out Hunger in Watsonville Patch – Mount Madonna School

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MMS 2nd Grade Class showing off what items to bring to donate to the Grind Out Hunger Food Drive


Students Unite to Collect Food
Posted to Watsonville Patch on November 2, 2011 at 5:00am
Article by: Leigh Ann Clifton

Gazing out from the stage in the school’s Assembly Room, 15 second grade students stood and collectively asked the assembled audience some objective questions: “What if you only had one meal a day, could you be happy? Could you concentrate in school? Probably not,” they answered. “Your stomach would ache, your head would hurt and your heart would be broken.”

The audience, Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) 6th through 12th graders, listened quietly. “One in four children in Santa Cruz County doesn’t have enough to eat,” the second graders continued. “What did you have for breakfast and lunch? Will you have dinner tonight? Many in our community will not.”

Like many local schools, MMS is participating in the Second Harvest Food Bank’s “Grind Out Hunger” program, with students, faculty and staff urged to reach into their pantries and donate food to feed those less fortunate.

“Children in Santa Cruz County need our help,” comments 7-year-old Grace Timan.

“People are suffering,” adds classmate Ben Pearson.

“We are fortunate; we have food so we should help others,” says Addy Catterall-Pendleton.

“We want everyone here at MMS to be kind and give a donation,” urges Bryce Adams.

Following a recent presentation by Shawn Hatjes, an MMS alumnus who now works with the Grind Out Hunger program, the second grade adopted the food drive as part of their class’s social service curriculum, says second-grade teacher Jenni Leach.

The class learned about hunger in the community from the Second Harvest website, and practiced their math skills in referencing statistics from Second Harvest’s 2010 Hunger Survey. The students designed posters based on what they had learned to encourage donating on the MMS campus. They wrote letters to their 6th grade big buddies about why each person should donate to Grind Out Hunger. The second grade then created a class four-paragraph essay about the needs of the local community, the Grind Out Hunger program, MMS’ history of giving; and how the students can give more this year. The second graders presented their essay to the Mount Madonna’s middle and high school students to enlist their participation with the effort, too.

“According to Second Harvest ‘2010 Hunger Survey,’ some 17,000 people per week in Santa Cruz County are served food through the bank’s program, up from 12,000 in 2006,” notes Leach. “That is about 885,000 people a year needing food in this county!”

People wishing to contribute to MMS’ collection for Grind Out Hunger can bring up donations of canned and boxed foods. Monetary donations are also welcome – for every one dollar donated, Second Harvest is able to purchase three pounds of food from local farmers and vendors. Mount Madonna’s participation in the food drive continues until Thanksgiving.

Grind Out Hunger was started in 2003 by Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop owner Danny Keith, as a way to inspire kids to get involved with helping other kids in the community who didn’t have enough to eat. “He is one compassionate skateboarder,” says the second grade class.

MMS 2nd Grade Class presents Grind Out Hunger to Middle and High School Students

Grind Out Hunger Program Coordinator, Shawn Hatjes, with MMS 2nd Grade class after presentation.

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