Power Snack visits Pocahontas CSD
posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2018
“When students come to school hungry they are more distracted and struggle to focus,” said Katie Farrell, teacher and Director at Pocahontas Preschool. “Having a full belly is key for the brain and body being able to function effectively and to be able to learn.”
New this year, food-insecure students in the Pocahontas Community School District will receive Power Snack coupon booklets containing a $5 coupon for deli ham and a $3 coupon for a loaf of whole wheat bread. A program of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, Power Snack aims to reduce childhood hunger in Iowa by providing access to nutritious food at home.
“We work closely with school teachers and staff to get these coupons distributed four times throughout the school year,” explained Allyson Ladd, communication specialist at Iowa Select Farms. “Teachers are encouraged to distribute coupons before extended holiday breaks, like Thanksgiving, when students won’t have access to breakfast and lunch programs at school.”
Included with the coupons is a “Protein Power!” booklet filled with easy recipes, such as how to make the perfect ham sandwich, scrambled eggs and ham, grilled ham and cheese, ham wraps, ham pizza snacks and ham, cheese and crackers.
“We are so excited about these coupons because it’s just another step that we can take to support our students and their families,” said Katie. “It shows that we are concerned and here to help them through tough times.”
In total, 46 students in the Pocahontas Community School District will receive Power Snack Coupons—a contribution valued at $1,472 and enough supplies to make 1,656 ham sandwiches.
As farmers and pork producers, Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation are passionate about assisting hunger-relief efforts, particularly those directed towards children. Which is why as part of our ongoing commitment to rural Iowa, we have increased the number of children served through Power Snack by nearly 14,000 since 2012.
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