CANYON, TEXAS -- UPDATE 10:00AM: More contact information to help with the program. Email snackpak4kidscanyon@gmail.com or email lstiner@kvii.com.
It's a growing problem in our schools, hundreds of area kids are going hungry over the weekend. "Snack Pak 4 Kids" is a volunteer based program that's fighting that number. It's a nationwide program that operates solely on the generous donations from the community.
Currently, Amarillo ISD has the program in selected schools. On Monday, Canyon ISD introduced the program at their first school, Reeves-Hinger Elementary. Pronews 7 takes an in-depth look at the program in our Region 16 Spotlight Education report.
At Reeves-Hinger Elementary 323 students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. Many of those kids go home for the weekend and have nothing to eat.
"Those children that come and are desperately eating. They go through the line, their rushing through the line and I've seen kids literally if the buses are a little late and they fear that the cafeterias are going to close, their shaking and crying because they want to eat," said Belen Guevara, Reeves-Hinger Elementary counselor.
It was through the collaboration of those helping Amarillo ISD's program and Guevara, that the realization of how great the need is in Canyon ISD's schools for the "Snack Pak 4 Kids" Program.
"She had a list of about 100 families they helped during the holiday season and that's overwhelming. Canyon is such a small, and uh, the community members in Canyon are so good at helping when there's help needed and all we needed was to make them aware there was a need," said Elia Moreno, Marketing Volunteer.
Friday, close to 100 students will receive a back pack full of peanut butter crackers, small boxes of cereal, Pop Tarts, shelf stable milk, and 100% fruit juices. It's not just for the students, but any siblings in the same home. Since this is a volunteer run program, they don't receive any government funding and rely solely on your donations.
"Give us the chance, help us feed a child. It cost $133 to feed a child for a whole year," said Moreno.
A local business did donate $10,000 just to start up the program. But to continue to operate, they still need $52,000. If the program is successful at Reeves-Hinger Elementary other Canyon ISD elementarys will enroll in the program next year. If you would like to donate please send those to:
P.O. Box 32150
Amarillo, TX 79120
