Continuing our focus on child hunger (#RANoHungryChild), Random Acts teamed up with Foodbank for the Heartland by providing a monetary donation to their BackPack program. This program, which is designed to provide food outside of school hours, fills the needs of children and their families in Nebraska and western Iowa.
Fighting Child Hunger When School is Out
Often, teachers in school systems are able to identify children from food-insecure homes. While free and reduced lunch programs provide a meal during school hours, the BackPack initiative provides food for children to take home over the weekend and during school breaks when access to nutritious food may be limited. The amount of grocery items sent home is increased during longer breaks, ensuring the children and their families have additional access to healthy food when school is not in session.
For each dollar donated, the Foodbank for the Heartland is able to provide three meals for a hungry child. Currently, this program provides 8,040 packs in 247 schools. With donations from Random Acts, the Foodbank for the Heartland was able to provide up to 1,500 meals for struggling families.
How You Can Help
We are in awe of the Foodbank for the Heartland’s contributions to end childhood hunger, both through the BackPack program and through their other efforts. If you would like to read more about the BackPack program, you can read an interview with the CEO from Second Harvest who is also participating in this effort to end child hunger after school hours.
We also encourage you to contact your local food banks and see how you can help to end child hunger.
The more we work together, the more we can accomplish!
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