Power Snack visits Osage CSD
posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2018
“It is hard to believe so many children don't receive the basic food and nutrition they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle,” said Osage Community School High School Counselor, Alyssa Abbas. “Without the proper diet, children are unable to focus in school because they are more concerned with the growling tummy and when their next meal will be.”
About 25 percent of students at Osage High School are on free and reduced lunch. Unfortunately, food insecurity is all too common in school across Iowa, not just in Osage. In fact, one in five children in Iowa are not receiving enough to eat.
Power Snack, a program organized and funded by Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, provides deli ham and whole wheat bread coupons for food insecure children to ease the burden of not having enough funds to purchase nutritious food that is critical in both physical and cognitive development.
“As farmers and pork producers we are passionate about assisting hunger-relief efforts, particularly those directed towards children,” said Jen Sorenson, communications director of Iowa Select Farms. “As part of our ongoing commitment to rural Iowa, we continue to grow efforts like Power Snack.”
This year, Power Snack will provide 23,267 children across 127 schools with 837,612 meals—a 23 percent increase from 2017.
“Keeping kids’ bellies full is important so they can focus and school and during activities,” continued Alyssa.
In total, 188 students in Osage will receive Power Snacks four times throughout the 2018-2019 school year—a contribution valued at $6,016 and enough supplies to make 6,768 ham sandwiches. Coupons are distributed before extended weekends and holiday breaks, like Thanksgiving, when students go lengthy periods of time without school meals.
“Kids love ham,” explained Jen Sorenson, communications director of Iowa Select Farms. “It’s easy to prepare, full of flavor and promotes growth and development. 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.”
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