“Students who come to school hungry struggle to focus on classroom instruction, which negatively affects their learning,” said Kari Wagner, Principal at Lake Mills Elementary. “Students with full bellies are better able to concentrate.”
With Thanksgiving break right around the corner, many of us are in the midst of planning elaborate family dinners. But the unfortunate reality is that many families will not have the funds for a holiday feast, or perhaps a meal at all.
“Holidays and extended weekends can be tough on our students,” said Kari. “For many, the majority of their meals happen at school.”
Power Snack, a program of Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, aims to provide children access to nutritious food at home. Now in its sixth year, Power Snack supports nearly 24,000 children statewide, including several within Wright County.
“As farmers and pork producers, we are passionate about assisting hunger-relief efforts, particularly those directed towards children,” said Jen Sorenson, Communications Director of Iowa Select Farms. “As part of our ongoing commitment to rural Iowa, we have increased the number of children served through Power Snack by nearly 14,000 since 2012.”
“Power Snack” is indicative of the larger purpose of the program—empower children in food insecure homes by teaching them how to get to the store, shop for nutritious food covered by our coupons and make their own snacks.
“We work with teachers, nurses, counselors and principals to distribute Power Snack coupon booklets at 127 different districts statewide,” explained Allyson Ladd of Iowa Select Farms. “The $5 deli ham and $3 whole wheat bread coupons are given out four times throughout the school year.”
907 children in Winnebago County will receive Power Snack coupons—a contribution valued at $29,024 and enough resources to make 32,652 ham sandwiches.
