Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Near Start of Backpack Food Program for School Kids

Would you believe there are some children who leave school on Friday with lunch being the last hot meal provided until they return to school on Monday for breakfast?

According to Enumclaw Regional Healthcare Foundation (ERHF) executive director Rene' Popke, one in four kids in Washington state is at risk of daily hunger. The recent recession has brought the number of hungry families in the state up 85 percent.

To fill the gaps in daily nutritional needs over the weekends for school-aged children, Neighbors Feeding Neighbors (NFN) is stepping in. NFN is a collaboration of the ERHF, Enumclaw Senior Center, Enumclaw Youth and Family Services, Enumclaw School District and dedicated volunteers who began serving the community's senior population but are now extending services to youth.

In about four weeks, NFN is launching a backpack food program at Southwood Elementary School. Families with children on the free and reduced lunch program and on Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) were contacted about their qualification for the program.

Southwood is serving as the pilot school for the new program, said Popke, and organizers hope with success they can grow the program to each elementary school in the Enumclaw School District in the next two to three years.

Recently, generous families as well as the school itself have collected food donations for the program, but more donations are welcome.

Popke said currently, volunteers have stacked a lot of healthy snacks and oatmeal. What they are in need of, however, are individually packaged items that are easy for a child to eat and prepare - lunch and dinner items like:

• single servings of macaroni and cheese
• anything pop-top like Chef Boyardee ravioli, spaghetti, etc.
• individual snack-size tuna cans with crackers
• 100% fruit juice boxes
• fruit cups
• applesauce cups

If you'd like to assist financially, there is also an option to sponsor a child for $20 a month. The average cost to fund a child for an entire weekend is just $5, said Popke. So for $20, a child can be supported for a month. 

For more information, call the Enumclaw Regional Healthcare Foundation office at 360-802-3206.