Power Snack visits Eagle Grove CSD

“About 70% of our students are on free/reduced meals and many often do not have much to eat at home,” said Scott Jeske, Principal at Robert Blue Middle School in Eagle Grove. “It makes it difficult for them to focus on school.”

In Iowa, 1 in 5 children are considered food-insecure, meaning they do not have enough to eat. 
“Being well-nourished is a basic need that has to be filled before students can start worrying about other needs, like learning,” Scott said.

To support students in Eagle Grove and statewide, Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation are spending nearly two weeks traveling the state donating Power Snack coupons for ham and whole wheat bread. Power Snack aims to reduce childhood hunger by providing access to nutritious food.

“Power Snack is indicative of the larger purpose of the program—empower children in food insecure homes by teaching them how to get to the store, shop for nutritious food covered by our coupons and make their own snacks,” said Jen Sorenson, Communications Director of Iowa Select Farms. “Oftentimes parents are working on weekends and holidays. Something simple like a ham sandwich may be the difference in preventing kids from going hungry.”

Four times throughout the upcoming school year students will receive a $5 coupon for deli ham and a $3 coupon for a loaf of whole wheat bread. Coupons can be used at local grocery and convenience stores.

“We’ve learned that holiday breaks and weekends are particularly tough on food-insecure children,” said Allyson Ladd, communications specialist at Iowa Select Farms. “We encourage teachers to distribute Power Snack coupons prior to those breaks so that no child ever has to go hungry.”

270 children in the Eagle Grove Community School District will receive Power Snack coupons—a contribution valued at $8,640 and enough resources to make 9,720 ham sandwiches.

“We see a difference in students that come to school hungry versus those that don’t, so these coupons are going to be a great asset for our kids,” continued Scott. “Poverty is a viscous cycle and affects our students in a number of ways. These coupons are just one more way we’re working to end childhood hunger altogether.”

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