Blog Post: Power Packs Give Kids Hope
Photos
At the end of September, Food for Others launched a new program to provide weekend food to needy children in Northern Virginia – the Power Pack Program (P3). These are children who get free or reduced-price meals on school days, but who face weekends of little food, or of food with empty calories. The program is just in its initial stages, but already I’ve heard some feedback about P3 from a couple different school contacts:
One teacher recently came to FFO’s Merrifield warehouse to pick up some packs. She mentioned that two kindergarteners came up to her asking if they would be getting packs that week. They really enjoyed them and were looking forward to their next one.
She also mentioned that on the second Friday that her school distributed the packs, the kids actually looked relieved to be getting them. Especially since they knew what the pack might contain after getting the first.
Another teacher from another school told us that her kids have been thrilled to receive the packs. They have one little boy who is currently homeless and it’s been especially helpful to him.
She mentioned that parents have been very grateful for what the Power Pack Program has done for their children. In addition, both teachers have been giving information about Food for Others to parents in need of more food for their families. Letting these families know how they can receive additional assistance from Food for Others is a definite purpose for this P3 initiative.
Apart from the kids who receive these packs, some other kids have begun to understand that they can be part of the P3 program by giving. A few kids who have had birthdays recently have asked their friends who are coming to their parties to bring the specific food items that go into a P3 pack, rather than to bring presents. Then everyone at the party sat down and made packs with the food that was collected.
One little girl came in with almost 100 pounds of food, but she also had a collection box set up at her party. Guests donated a total of $156!
Food for Others expects P3 to grow. There are many more children who face hungry weekends.
Food for Others is looking for more businesses and other organizations willing to partner with a nearby school. Of course, donations of food for the program and funds for food purchases are most welcome too. Potential partners or donors should contact Nikki Clifford at 703-207-9173 about becoming a part of this effort, or with any questions about the program. Or visit the Food for Others website at www.foodforothers.org.
Amelie Krikorian
11:46 am on Saturday, February 4, 2012
How are the teachers finding out which kids have free or reduced price lunches? At my school, that is concealed information.
Nikki Clifford
3:14 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hello Ms. Krikorian: My name is Nikki Clifford, I help to administer the Power Pack Program at Food for Others. My contacts have been school counselors or social workers that, I believe, also teach a class or two. They may be in contact with the person at their schools that has access to the list of students participating in the free and reduced meals program. However, knowing their student bodies as well as they tend to, they might not even need to have access to the list in order to give the packs to the kids that would most benefit from them. To Food for Others the kids do not need to be part of one program in order to benefit from the other. I hope this is helpful information.
Amelie Krikorian
5:25 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Yes, thanks -- at my school there had been a big uproar during the book fair because a few students were given free books, and one of the people involved let slip that it was because the kids were on free/reduced price lunches... so i know it can be a touchy issue.
Laura Goyer
3:50 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hi Nikki-
Is there any fresh produce in these power packs? I understand that is difficult if storage is an issue, but, since these are going home for immediate consumption it might be viable. I would be interested in talking to you about how to help with that.
Nikki Clifford
4:33 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hello Laura: At the moment Food for Others can not provide anything perishable. This is due to storage constraints both at our warehouse and the schools we serve. Our volunteers tend to deliver a minimum of 2 weeks worth of packs at a time, if not an entire months worth. Depending on the school, that can be as many as 400 packs per month. I'd love to hear any ideas you have, feel free to email me at nclifford@foodforothers.org or call 703-207-9173.
anahita shafa
8:15 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
Hi Nikki,
I would like to find out how I can help. I am a full time working mom of 2 little boys and I am also a coupon shopper. If I know what you need most or what you would like to add to the kids food packs, I can watch out for and buy with sales at the local stores. Pls let me know. My email is Anahita72@gmail.com. thanks
Peter L. Spain
11:27 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
Dear Anahita,
Suggested foods:
For breakfast:
• Oatmeal packets
• Cereal - individual serving size boxes
For lunch and/or dinner:
• Chili cups
• Mac & Cheese cups
• Tuna salad kits
• Pasta/meat cups (Beefaroni has ravioli,
spaghetti & meatballs, etc. in single
serving sizes)
For snacks:
• Fruit cups
• Cheese & crackers
• Pretzel packets
For drinks:
• 100% Fruit juice boxes
• Capri Sun juices packets
• Shelf stable milk (Horizon has individual
serving sizes in chocolate, strawberry
and vanilla along with regular milk)
Here is a picture of a sample P3 pack.
DO NOT USE food list:
• Please try to avoid items with
peanuts or peanut butter
• Candy – try to stick with items that
have some nutritional value
• No perishable foods!
• Pop Tarts – they can get too crumbly
in the pack for the kids to eat
• Potted Meat or Vienna Sausages –
the kids don’t eat them
• Family sized cans or boxes – too
large for a child to eat alone and/or
too heavy for them to carry home
• No glass containers, please
You can also see that Amazon.com now offers free shipping of donated food directly to Food for Others if you are a Member of Amazon’s Prime program. Just order online and click.
Thanks for your interest.
Best regards,
Peter Spain
Catherine
2:22 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2012
What a wonderful program and it is heartwarming to hear about what students are doing to help their classmates too! Thank you to all who are filling this critical need for hungry children in our area!