Newell-Fonda Community School District Received 1,000 Power Snack Coupons
posted on Thursday, November 21, 2019
According to Feeding America, food insecurity impacts about 11 million children and 5 million seniors in the United States. In Iowa, it is estimated about 341,890 people are struggling with hunger, including 111,520 children.
“As farmers and pork producers, we are passionate about assisting hunger-relief efforts, particularly those directed towards children,” said Jen Sorenson, Communications Director for Iowa Select Farms. “Power Snack aims to provide children access to nutritious food at home. No child should have to go to bed wondering where their next meal is going to come from.”
For the past seven years, Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation have consistently expanded Power Snack, a program that provides food-insecure children with $5 coupons for a loaf of whole wheat bread and $3 coupons for a pound of deli ham.
Earlier today, the Newell-Fonda Community School District received 1,000 Power Snack coupon booklets at 80 pork sticks to help in emergency hunger situations.
“Students who are hungry have a hard time concentrating,” said Stacey Tiefenthaler, School Nurse. “Behaviors can vary between fatigue and irritability to lack of interest and difficulty focusing. Hunger has a negative impact on their ability to learn.”
Four times throughout the school year, students will receive Power Snack coupons. Combining the energy and carbohydrates of whole wheat bread with the protein of ham means the children will have made themselves a real Power Snack.
“The reality is that some of our families have never purchased quality foods like these coupons offer,” said Stacey. “Those same families are excited to have an opportunity to incorporate the ham and whole wheat bread into their diets. It was just something they couldn’t justify buying before.”
While distribution varies by school, most coupons are distributed prior to extended weekends and holiday breaks. Stacey prepares the coupon booklets for kids to take home to their parents.
“Protein helps provide long-acting energy for our students’ bodies and especially for their brains,” she continued. “Now that they know what the coupons are, everyone is so excited to receive them again. They really do make a positive difference in our students' and families' lives.”
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