A6 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2012 ★★ WWW.KANSASCITY.COMLOCAL | THE KANSAS CITY STAR.

ble just in case the electric util-ity shuts off their power again.Or in case she needs to maskthe smell from the raw sewagefrom bad plumbing in the base-ment that her landlord hasn’tcome to clean up for threeweeks.

“I’m struggling,” says Kelli,who often gets crucial help andsupport from Sister Berta Sail-er of Operation Breakthrough.The family’s last name isn’t be-ing used to protect the privacyof the children and to preventthem from being teased atschool.

“No parent wants to eventhink they can’t provideenough for their kids. … I’mtrying the best I can.”

She makes $11.50 an hour ata full-time seasonal job. Whenshe got the work, after beingunemployed for a while andmaking do on unemploymentand food stamps, she lost herfood benefits. She says she nowmakes 22 cents an hour toomuch to get federal assistancefor day care.

But her kids don’t complain.On this night, they sit in thesmall living room with her andtalk about school. Antonio,who has autism, just broughthome a report card with highpraise from his art teacher. Acreative mind, the teacher said.

Alexis, who sits on the fami-ly’s worn couch with one legtucked underneath her, has pa-perwork about her school’sfree lunch program that hermom needs to sign.

She wants to grow up to be aTop Chef.

“So I’ll never be hungry,” shesaid.

And neither will other peo-ple. Her plan is to have a res-taurant where she won’t turnaway hungry people who can’tpay.

“I’ll give them free food,” shesays, “but they’ll have to payme back next time.”

Does Alexis worry nowwhen there’s not enough foodin their apartment, when ameal is ramen noodles orsomething from her Back-Snack?

She shrugs and gestures toher mom.

“She’s the best person in theworld,” Alexis says. “So I don’tworry about food.”

Kelli takes a deep breath andsmiles.

“Oh, Lexie, thanks so muchfor saying that,” she says. “I just

worry about doing what’s rightfor my kids.”

As mother and daughter talk,Antonio grabs a couple of friesoff the plate. To reach Laura Bauer, call816-234-4944 or send email tolbauer@kcstar.com.

HUNGER: ‘I’m struggling,’ saysKelli, but her kids don’t complain

FROM A4

A self-portrait of Alexis, 11,who lives in whatresearchers call afood-insecure home. Shewants to grow up to be aTop Chef. “So I’ll never behungry,” she said.

FEEDING HUNGRYCHILDRENEvery weekend,Harvesters providesbackpacks full of foodto 17,000 schoolchildrenin the 26-county areawho otherwise wouldn’thave enough to eat.Over the next twoweeks, The Star willpublish stories thatshow how hungeraffects children andwhat people are doingabout it.

HOW YOU CAN HELPFor the third year, TheStar is partnering withHarvesters to host avirtual food drive. Allmoney raised will go toHarvesters’ BackSnackprogram for kids. Goonline to feedingkckids.harvesters.org to make adonation.

If you’d like, you candesignate your donationin the honor or memoryof a family member orfriend. The Star willpublish the dedicationson Christmas Day.Dedications need to bein by 5 p.m. Dec. 23 toappear in the Christmaspaper.

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