When teachers in our community noticed that students were coming to school on Mondays with headaches and stomachaches, they called Second Harvest in search of a solution. They identified these students as participants in the free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs and explained that the last meal the students had eaten was at school the Friday before. Living in such a food rich community, the thought of any child going two days without food was and still is appalling.
With the support of companies and organizations willing to step up to support kids and families, Second Harvest Food Bank created Hi-Five Kids Packs. The packs contained nine different kid-friendly food items, such as cereals, healthy snacks and meals kids could make in the event a parent isn’t at home.
As the 2019-20 school year gets underway, the packs will undergo a name change to be the Kids Snack Pack Program. This name better reflects how kids and families are using the food items to supplement their food needs over the weekend. With the name change, the important thing to note is that the program continues to support students and families, like Alicia’s.
For two years now, Alicia has watched her children flourish and grow thanks to receiving the Kids Snack Packs every weekend during the school year. As a parent and student herself, she acknowledges the difference that the program has made in her children’s lives. The program allows Alicia to worry less about what her kids are eating while she focuses on her own studies.
“My children keep me going above all! They keep me pushing forward and trying every day.”
There is no bigger motivator for Alicia than seeing how happy her children are with their packs every weekend. Of families surveyed about the program, 92.5% agree that it has had a positive impact on their children, and Alicia agrees. The program has truly made a difference in her household.
To learn more about how your support helps kids during the school year and all year long, visit www.feedhopenow.org/kids.