Gilmore City-Bradgate Elementary School— Haul Out Hunger
posted on Thursday, June 20, 2019
“We started this pantry last fall because we identified a need in the community,” said Kelsey Wigans, Seed to Table Manager, RDN, LDN Gilmore City-Bradgate Elementary School. “As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of properly nourishing kids’ bodies and the effect it has on satiety, growth and cognitive development. Hungry kids can’t learn.”
Last fall Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation visited the GCB CSD to deliver PowerSnack coupons for deli ham and whole wheat bread. When we heard they were making plans to open a food pantry, we couldn’t wait to come back—this time with a semi full of pork.
“I couldn’t believe it when they asked if we wanted free loins,” continued Kelsey. “It was a no-brainer. This is not a typical donation that we’d receive. Quality meat like this is very expensive.”
According to Kelsey, food insecurity affects students and their ability to focus in the classroom. “It is important for students to have full bellies so they can learn, comprehend what they are learning, and ultimately become healthy adults that contribute to society. Summers can be tough on kids because they go without meals they normally would have had at school.”
In addition to delivering 12 pork loins to Kelsey and the GCB CSD, Haul Out Hunger also stopped at the First Lutheran Church Community Closet just down the road with five cases of pork loins. In total, we filled freezers in Gilmore City with 72 pork loins, enough to provide 1,296 servings of pork.
“It means a lot when we’re able to provide families the means for a nutritious, hot meal on the table,” continued Kelsey. “This pork loin will easily feed an entire family, probably even several meals.”
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