Eddyville Elementary Power Snack Delivery
posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2017
“Food insecurity among our students is a huge concern of mine as a building administrator,” said Eddyville Elementary School Principal, Jil Nelson. “When a child is hungry they can’t focus and their ability to learn is affected.”
If you’ve been following along with our Power Snack Program deliveries, you know that we’ve talked with many teachers and school staff who have all said the same thing: children who come to school hungry have a harder time focusing and are not receiving the right amount of nutrients at home. Food insecure children have no control over this situation and often are left to eating cheap and processed foods.
According to the USDA’s MyPlate guidelines, children need up to six ounces of lean protein daily, depending on their age and gender.
The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation's Power Snack Program provides students with $5 coupons for a pound of shaved or sliced deli ham and $3 coupons for a loaf of whole wheat bread and currently supports 60 students at Eddyville Elementary – a contribution valued at $1,920.
So, how do these two ingredients make a Power Snack? Easy. Both ham and whole wheat bread are filled with good-for-you minerals, vitamins and most importantly, protein. Nutrients that are imperative in both the physical and cognitive development of children and young adults.
The Power Snack Program supports 60 students at Eddyville Elementary – a contribution valued at $1,920.
At Eddyville Elementary, they know the importance of these nutrients in their students’ diets which is why they send students home with bags on the weekends that are full of healthy, filling foods.
“We do send some students home with bags on the weekends that are full of nutritious food,” Nelson says. “But this is for students who sign up. I’m not convinced we aren’t missing some families who did not sign up.”
And why exactly is Principal Nelson not convinced? “We have children who eat more than is typical at breakfast and lunch,” she explained. “And what that tells me is that the only well-balanced meals that student is receiving are at school.”
To make sure that no child ever goes hungry, children are never turned away at Eddyville Elementary when they express an interest in seconds. In fact, each child is allowed to receive seconds at both breakfast and lunch. And, in an order to teach students the importance of helping out their classmates, Eddyville has a share table. The share table is a place where students can put unused and unopened food items for other students to eat in school or take home.
“We are continually striving to get the word out and identify the students that truly are in need of these food-assistance programs,” continued Nelson. “We care deeply about our students and want to help them succeed. This program is going to get them the nutrients that they need to stay focused and engaged in our classrooms."
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