K. A. Applegate

When we have financial struggles, kids are so much more aware of things than we want them to be.

One of my first paid gigs was writing psychology quizzes for 'YM,' a monthly teen magazine like 'Seventeen.'

I hope kids feel gratitude for what they do have.

I hate to witness animals in captivity - or see circus elephants paraded down the streets. When animals are caged, it's a loss of what they are.

It occurred to me that a food drive would be a natural way to talk to kids about hunger, which so many of them simply aren't aware of.