Local Outreach: PowerPacks

food-in-se-cure

Food insecurity has the potential to be harmful to individuals of any age, but it can be especially devastating to children. The USDA estimates that nearly 13 million children in the United States live in food-insecure households as of 2016. That means that 1 in 6 children (18%) may not have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food insecure children are those children living in households experiencing food insecurity.

Food insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all the time. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods. (Feeding America, 2018)

To this end, we have partnered with Mt. Pleasant BIC and provide close to 90 children with food to take home each weekend.  We purchase, pack and deliver the food to three elementary schools in our area; Fayetteville Elementary, Scotland Elementary and Guilford Hills Elementary.  The children receive two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks, two fruits and two drinks. For more information, to donate or to help pack, contact [email protected].

Packing Dates for 2022-2023 Thursdays at 9am; September, November, January, March & May

Donation Items (Single Serve Size)

Breakfasts-Cereal Box, Cereal Bar, Oatmeal Packet, Pop-Tarts

Meals-Canned Pasta, Chili with Beans (can), Easy Mac, Pork & Beans, Tuna, Soups, Vienna Sausages (can)

Juice & Milk -single serving size box

Fruit-Applesauce cup, Fruit cup, Raisins

Snacks-Animal Crackers, Cookies, Fruit Roll-ups, Fruit Snacks, Granola Bar, Popcorn (microwave bag), Pretzel bag, Chip bag, Pudding cup, Rice Krispy treat