Program expands to Chippewa County, giving kids free weekend meals
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Thursday, October 30, 2008 10:05 AM CDT
For the Herald
Feed My People’s Weekend Kids’ Meal program, which began three years ago in Eau Claire, has added Parkview Elementary School in Chippewa Falls and Bloomer Middle School to its distribution sites this fall.
The program’s expansion was made possible by financial support from Charter Bank, the Burke Social Ministry Fund of Central Lutheran Church (Chippewa Falls) and generous individual donations.
The goal of the Weekend Kids’ Meal program is to provide healthy food for children to bring home on weekends, when school meals are not available. There are no restrictions as to who can participate in the program, and students can enroll at any time throughout the year. There is no cost to participants or the distribution sites.
“Weekend Kids’ Meals is definitely meeting a need in our community in these tough economic times by helping families stretch their paychecks and ensuring our kids do not go hungry,” said Jessica Modjeski, Family Support & Resource Coordinator, Parkview Elementary. “It is fun to see the kids’ faces light up each week as they come down to pick up their meals and discover what is in their bag.”
Feed My People volunteers currently assemble bags of food containing two breakfasts and two lunches weekly for 435 children in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties, as compared to 300 last year — a 45 percent increase. The program’s growth is a result of increased participation at current distribution sites and the two additional sites in Chippewa County.
Weekend Kids’ Meals is offered at targeted schools and community centers in both rural and urban areas. Currently those include in Eau Claire County: the Boys & Girls Club, Longfellow Elementary and Pre-K, Western Dairyland Head Start, and in Chippewa County: Bloomer Middle School, New Auburn School and Parkview Elementary.
“Many potential distribution sites have contacted Feed My People expressing a desire to participate in the Weekend Kids’ Meal program. We are being very careful to expand only as fast as we believe the community will be able to sustain financially over the long haul,” said Emily Moore, executive director.
Based on 2006 poverty data, approximately 6,000 children are living in poverty in the Chippewa Valley. Children with inadequate nutrition are more likely to experience emotional, cognitive and physical development difficulties. The program helps children get the nutrition they need, while helping their families provide basic needs.
Feed My People Food Bank supplies over 1.5 million pounds of food and household products annually to 60 non-profit food assistance programs in 14 counties in west central Wisconsin.
For more information call (715) 835-9415.
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