TAMPA, Florida, September 7, 2017 – Miss America’s Outstanding Teen (MAOTeen) 2018, Jessica Baeder, along with dozens of MAOTeen State Representatives, will visit the Southern Branch of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Egg Harbor Township on Friday, September 8, 2017.

“Hunger is closer than you think,” said Baeder. She continued, “Children and adults face hunger in every community across the country. Your neighbor, child’s classmate or even coworker may be struggling to get enough to eat.”

Jessica has spent over 800 hours of volunteer time dedicated to providing healthy food options for all communities. She has created two innovative programs. Her “Fresh Fruit 4 Kids” campaign makes baskets of fresh fruit at grocery stores available for children to sample for free, promoting healthy snacks. “Jessica’s Pantry” is a food drive initiative created to supplement summer lunch programs for low income children.

Having become a second degree black belt at the age of 9, Jessica combines her Tae Kwon Do skills and philanthropic spirit to teach “Fit for Life” lessons at schools, emphasizing nutrition and fitness. Jessica wants to ensure that everyone has the information and opportunity to make good decisions about their health. She is committed to hands-on service, being a voice for positive change, and creating a national of healthier children and families.

By spending time at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey during September, tapped “Hunger Action Month™” by the Feeding America® network, Jessica hopes to continue to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger. “I look forward to going to volunteer at the FoodBank. Seeing how grateful the clients are at the amount of food the MAOTeen Organization will provide for them is going to be so awesome!”

Jessica’s challenge to you? Spend a little time this month looking for volunteer opportunities in your area. Grab your family, grab some friends and head out to do a little good for others.

We encourage you to take action and make a difference in the lives of your neighbors struggling with hunger. Share your service on social media using the following:

FACEBOOK: Food gives people the energy they need to take on the day. You can help the 1 in 8 people who struggle with hunger. Join us and @Feeding America #HungerActionMonth @MAOTeen #MAOTeen

TWITTER: Food gives you energy to take on the day. Help the 1 in 8 people facing hunger. #HungerActionMonth @FeedingAmerica @MAOTeen #MAOTeen

The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs. The MAOTeen organization encourages positive achievement by helping to nurture and build the scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement of our nation’s youth. MAOTeen provides educational scholarships for deserving young people and has developed mentoring programs and community-based initiatives across the country. The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organization has a long-standing relationship with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Through this partnership, MAOTeen contestants raise over $300,000 annually to help improve the lives of CMNH children and families. Additional information about the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organization can be found at www.maoteen.org.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America, distributes food, provides education and training, develops programs to help hungry people throughout the state, and engages all sectors of society in this mission.

Since their incorporation in 1982, they have grown in both the size and scope of their operation. More than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by the CFBNJ network of partner charities. With the help of so many caring individuals, corporations, foundations, houses of worship, schools and community groups, they have distributed some 600 million pounds of food valued at roughly $1 billion.