Our next stop on our journey to deliver 72,000 Power Snacks brought us to Creston, where we met with Student Success Coordinator, Jane Shantz. “We’re excited to hand these coupons out to local students in need,” she said. “Protein is so important because it fills students up for a long time, versus a quick meal that is high in carbs or sugar and will not keep them full long. We’re excited about the protein!”
Shantz is referencing the Power Snack coupons she just received which are intended for local food insecure students in the district. An effort of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, the Power Snack program provides students with coupons for $5 worth of shaved deli ham and $3 for a loaf of whole wheat bread.
“The coupons are bright and colorful for a reason,” explained Logan Sweers, an Outreach Specialist with Iowa Select Farms. “We don’t want them to get lost in a backpack, we want students to feel empowered to use them at their local grocery stores. They’re user-friendly and can be used by anyone, not just adults!”
Throughout the 2017-2018 school year more than 18,000 local Iowa students will receive the coupons. Thanks to Principals, teachers, counselors and school staff, the coupons are distributed four times throughout the year – a $576,000 investment in the fight against food insecurity in Iowa.
