Central Lyon Community School District Received 1,400 Power Snack Coupon Booklets
posted on Thursday, November 21, 2019
Earlier today, the Central Lyon Community School District received 1,400 Power Snack coupon booklets and 80 pork sticks to help in emergency hunger situations.
“When students come to school hungry, they have a more difficult time in the classroom compared to students who are not hungry,” said Steve Harman, Elementary and Middle School Principal. “Grades show that hunger has a direct, negative effect on high achieving grades.”
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.
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. While distribution varies by school, most coupons are distributed prior to extended weekends and holiday breaks.
“This is an awesome contribution to all our families,” said Principal Harman. “When kids aren’t well-nourished, we start to see discipline issues, a lack of focus and frustration. Protein is the fuel the body needs to work properly.”
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