How we help kids with food insecurity eat over weekends
Fueled By Kids provides over 470 students (over 600 during Covid) who are identified by school guidance counselors and social workers as likely to not have a guaranteed source of food over the weekend.
There are 67 hours between when these students receive lunch on Friday afternoon and when they receive breakfast on Monday morning through the National School Lunch Program.
Fueled By Kids in the Community
Read the full story on WMUR.com
How Fueled By Kids Helps
Fueled By Kids provides over 470 students (over 600 during Covid) who are identified by school guidance counselors and social workers as likely to not have a guaranteed source of food over the weekend.
There are 67 hours between when these students receive lunch on Friday afternoon and when they receive breakfast on Monday morning through the National School Lunch Program.
Covid-19 Crisis Response
We have always known the need for our weekend food in Manchester exceeded our current reach. We have had long term goals to eventually serve all students who could benefit from our program. However, with Covid-19 online schooling and job loss the need for our program has skyrocketed. The Manchester School District is giving out 3,600 free meals each day. We are trying to do everything we can to support these children in anyway we can. We are staying flexible to meet the changing needs of the school district. We have been providing 600 bags each week since March and will continue to do so as long as the need and our funds lasts.
New Summer Program
As part of our response to the Covid-19 crisis we are continuing to serve 600 children throughout the entire summer. In the past, we have done a small summer program that served 150 children for only six weeks through summer camp held at a few of the schools. This summer, with busses continuing to deliver free breakfast and lunch throughout the summer, we have been asked to continue to provide 600 bags each week, which we gladly accepted!
The Effect of Food Insecurity on Children
Food Insecurity among children is a national issue and while New Hampshire has the sixth lowest rate of food insecurity nationally, it has devastating affects on the children who suffer from it.
Not having proper nutrition can affect the child’s growth and development; these children often have increased hospitalizations, iron deficiency, and overall worse health. But beyond the physical food insecurity can affect their behavior and success in school with an increase in disorders like aggression, anxiety, and ADD.
What People Are Saying
