Howard-Winneshiek Hunger for Power

Our first (and biggest!) stop of the day was the Howard-Winneshiek CSD where we met up with Student and Family Case Manager, Denise Headington, to deliver 2,200 Power Snacks and 200 Pork Sticks for 550at-risk students in the district.

“Our high school students have told us that with Power Snacks, they know that they will at least have something to eat for the day,” said Denise. “They like the coupons because they can go to the store on their own and not need money. Parents have also said the Program has been so helpful because they can use the money saved to purchase additional food.”

A program of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, PowerSnack aims to reduce childhood hunger by providing access to nutritious food, specifically ham and whole wheat bread, at home. The coupons students receive can be redeemed at any local grocery store or market.

“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,” said Jen Sorenson, Communications Director at Iowa Select Farms. “Not only is deli ham easy to prepare, it’s full of flavor, promotes growth and development.”

According to the National Pork Board, pork loin, tenderloin and ham are excellent sources of thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, phosphorus and protein, and a good source of zinc and potassium. The USDA MyPlate guidelines recommend children eat up to six ounces of lean protein daily, depending on age and gender.

“Protein is important as it helps provide our students with energy,” explained Denise. “It also builds and repairs cells. Protein is the building block of bones, muscles, skin and blood. It’s extremely important in the diets of young, developing students.”

Now in its seventh year, Power Snack has supported 4,309 students in Howard County with 206,832 ham sandwiches, a contribution valued at $137,888.

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