More Than 90,000 Power Snacks and 10,000 Pork Sticks Brought Us to Creston, Iowa
posted on Sunday, November 17, 2019
Our next stop on our journey to deliver more than 90,000 Power Snacks and 10,000 pork sticks brought us to Creston, Iowa, where we met with Student Success Coordinator, Jane Shantz.
“We’ve received these coupons for several years now and it never gets any less exciting,” Jane smiled. “They help us provide nourishment for our kids and their families.”
Power Snack is a program of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation that aims to reduce childhood hunger by providing access to nutritious foods at home. Now in its seventh year, Power Snack reaches 22,751 students statewide.
“Protein is extremely important in the diets of young, developing students because it fills them for a long time, versus a quick meal that is high in carbs and sugar that leave them unfulfilled,” explained Jane. “It also helps with both normal and brain development.”
Each year, schools receive delivery of Power Snack Teacher Kits. The kits contain 75 Pork Sticks and four Power Snack booklets for each child containing a $5 coupon for deli ham and a $3 coupon for a loaf of whole wheat bread—the ingredients needed to channel their inner superhero and “Power Snacks” at home.
According to Jane, the coupons provide relief for students and their families on weekends, extended breaks, towards the end of the month and even at school.
“The coupons are bright and colorful for a reason,” explained Jen Sorenson, Iowa Select Farms Director of Communications. “We don’t want them to get lost in a backpack, we want students to feel empowered to use them at their local grocery stores. They’re user-friendly and can be used by anyone, not just adults.”
This year, 250 students at Creston Community Elementary School Grades 1-5 and Creston Middle School will receive the coupons—a contribution valued at $8,000 and enough supplies to make 12,000 ham sandwich Power Snacks.
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