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ABOUT THE SEND HUNGER PACKING PROGRAM
The Send Hunger Packing Program provides food to chronically hungry school children from low-income households who are at risk of hunger over the weekend when free school meals are unavailable. Every Friday afternoon students on the program are discretely given a bag of food to tuck into their backpacks or backpack of food (depending on the program) for the weekend. Each food pack provides enough food for an entire weekend.
HOW ARE CHILDREN SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM?Counselors, teachers and nurses identify students who display signs of chronic hunger. Warning signs include stomach aches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, hoarding food from the cafeteria and absenteeism. Once identified by a school teacher or nurse, the student’s parents are sent a permission slip to enroll the student in the program.
WHAT FOOD ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BACKPACK?Sample items include peanut butter; canned tuna, chicken, or turkey; skillet meals; macaroni and cheese; soup; canned vegetables and fruit; cereal or oatmeal; Food for 4 family members for 7 meals are packed in the bags.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?• Schools with 50% or more kids on free or reduced lunch • Community or faith based organizations serving chronically hungry children that are eligible or receiving free/reduced lunch.
HOW MANY SITES CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE?
Care and Share has 27 sites enrolled for the 2011/2012 school year in the following counties:El Paso County (14 sites) Pueblo County (5 sites)Teller County (2 sites)Crowley County (1 site)Otero County (2 sites)Montezuma County (1 site)La Plata County (1 site)Saguache County (1 site)
HOW DO I BECOME A SITE?For more information about becoming a Send Hunger Packing site, please contact Jennifer Mariano, Director of Programs at 719-434-4676 or Jennifer@careandshare.org
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO FEED A CHILD FOR A YEAR? • $270 = 1 school year (36 weekends)• $30 = 1 month (4 weekends)• $7.50 = 1 weekend
HOW CAN I HELP FUND A CHILD OR SCHOOL ON THE PROGRAM? Contact Charles Rice, Director of Development, 719-434-4679 or Charles@careandshare.org
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