FFOC’s annual grocery drive now on at Yoke’s
Grab a ticket for as little as $1, or ask the clerk to round up your purchases at Yoke’s, now through the end of the month. Food for Our Children’s board member, Jamie Schlehuber shows you how to do it in this photo.
Courtesy photo
Food insecurity affects children in several different ways.
It affects concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills, all of which kids need to be successful in school. Children who literally don’t know where their next meal is coming from may suffer from overall poor physical and mental health and often experience constant stress and anxiety.
Around 10 years ago, Food for our Children identified a huge problem in the county. Children who were provided with low or no-cost meals during the school week were without nutritious meals on weekends. Thanks to generous donations from the community, FFOC has been able to provide weekend meals for these students.
“This year, the increasing number of children at risk has made public support critical and FFOC’s goal to eliminate childhood hunger in Bonner County more of a challenge,” board member Kris Contor said. “The number of weekend bags has increased from under 400 to about 575 per week and since we’ve also committed to assisting the Free and Reduced School Lunch Program, we’re looking at needing to raise at least three times the amount we’ve needed before.”
If you do your grocery shopping at Yoke’s, you’ll see the display near the check-out lines explaining that FFOC needs funds. If you can, pick up a ticket for $1, $2, or $5 and be sure to tell the clerk to round up your change. This boost of dollars will help exponentially.
“Food for our Children is 100 percent volunteer run. The board funds all overhead costs, so every dollar raised goes directly to purchasing food from 2nd Harvest, through the Bonner Community Food Bank at wholesale prices, and it remains local.” Contor said.
Shelf stable food bags with fruit are distributed at each elementary school in Bonner County and at Head Start. And, in addition to weekend bags, FFOC also provides mid-morning snacks during the school year to children in need.
Contor said the motto, “don’t underestimate the power of the cheese stick!” is true and underscores the need to feed the community's vulnerable population.
FFOC urges everyone who can afford a buck or two or five or, better yet, more, to participate in this year’s fundraising effort. For more information or to make an online donation go to their website: www.foodforourchildren.org.
And don’t forget to round up at the checkout, Contor said.