After coming up with ideas on how to create awareness about child hunger, and having fundraisers such as a bake sale in front of C-Town, the Fight Child Hunger Club has raised more than $1,000 to address the issue locally.

Members then presented checks of $100 to representatives of various food pantries, including: Community Action Committee of Danbury, Daily Bread and Ecumenical Food Pantry, The Hispanic Center of Western CT, New Heights Food Pantry, and Interfaith AIDS Ministry.

The pantries were chosen after club members consulted the booklet, Danbury Food Collaborative, A Guide To Accessing Food In Danbury.

Principal Gary Bocaccio and Associate Principal Meghan Martins attended the May 12 presentation and said they were proud of the club for raising money for such an important cause.

“I am thrilled with the club,” Bocaccio said. “It serves a great purpose. I am excited Danbury High School is engaging in this.”

Martins added, “This club embodies the spirit of the student body,” she said. “The kids see a problem and deal with it. I’m proud of the students and the staff involved.”

The donations coincided with a report released this month that shows 1 of 7 Connecticut residents struggling with food insecurity.

Map the Meal Gap 2016, an annual study by Feeding America, shows that “Fairfield County, with the highest per capita income of Connecticut counties, has a food insecurity rate of nearly 11 percent, or nearly 102,000 people; almost 34,000 of those people are children.”

The presentation started with a video made by the Fight Child Hunger Club, explaining what motivated each member to join.

Club President Jacqueline Gavilanez said working with the club has been fulfilling.

“For four years I’ve been helping and it’s a great experience. You help people from all over the community,” said the senior, who added the club meets every Thursday.

The club is advised by teachers Soraya Bilbao and Kimberly Domercant.

“It’s a great thing for the school to be doing,” Domercant said.