Power Snack Stops At North Union Elementary in Fenton, Iowa
posted on Monday, November 25, 2019
“Protein builds muscle in students and also provides energy, both mentally and physically,” said Jodi Bruhn, Building Secretary at North Union Elementary in Fenton. “Fresh meat and whole grain are not always available for our students, and so these coupons really make a difference. They enjoy having those healthier, more-filling items they wouldn’t normally have.”
For the second year in a row, our Power Snack crew stopped by NU schools to deliver Power Snack—a program of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation that aims to reduce hunger in children by providing access to nutritious food.
“As farmers and pork producers, we’re passionate about assisting hunger-relief efforts, particularly those directed towards children,” said Allyson Ladd, Communications Specialist at Iowa Select Farms. “Oftentimes, parents are working on weekends and holidays and something simple like a ham sandwich may be the difference in preventing kids from going hungry.”
Now in its seventh year, Power Snack supports 22,751 students identified by their schools as food-insecure. The Program reaches 125 schools across Iowa and provides coupon booklets containing a $5 coupon for a pound of ham and $3 coupon for a loaf of whole wheat or whole grain bread.
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.
“Without proper nutrition, students can only concentrate for so long; their attention span is shorter,” continued Jodi. “We may also start to see behaviors like anger without cause and exhaustion.”
With Thanksgiving break right around the corner, NU plans to distribute coupons out to students so families have something to fall back on when school in not in session. Power Snack coupons will also be distributed at Christmas, Spring Break and end of the year.
In total, 91,004 Power Snack deli ham and whole wheat bread coupon packs and 10,000 Pork Sticks will be distributed statewide.
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