PowerSnack Stops At Winterset Elementary with Nearly 600 PowerSnack Coupons
posted on Sunday, November 17, 2019
“Food insecurity affects my students, their behavior and ability to be in the classroom learning,” said Ashley Guilliams, a counselor at Winterset Elementary School. “When they have full bellies they can focus on school, rather than worrying about when they will eat again.”
In Iowa, 1 in 5 children does not have enough to eat. And although school-based food-assistance programs for children from low-income families greatly aid the learning process, children may still suffer from food insecurity on weekends and holiday breaks.
“When I first learned about the Power Snack program and that it would be coming to our school I got so excited,” continued Ashley. “But I think what excited me most was the healthy food options these coupons will make accessible for our students and their families, without having to worry about the finances.”
Power Snack, a program of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, aims to reduce childhood hunger in Iowa by providing kids access to nutritious food at home. Four times throughout the school year children receive a $5 coupon for deli ham and $3 coupon for a loaf of whole wheat bread.
New this year, schools also receive pork sticks—a protein-packed snack to help curb hunger in emergency situations.
“Protein helps our bodies stay full longer,” continued Guilliams. “If we can get high protein snacks to our kids throughout the day, I feel the chances increase for their learning abilities to improve.”
600 Power Snacks were delivered to Winterset Elementary School today—enough supplies to make 7,200 ham sandwiches and a contribution valued at $4,800.
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