How We Help
The results are coming in – the program is an overwhelming success. Participating schools have grown from one to all five elementary schools in Dare County. Participating children have increased from 54 in the January 2006 pilot to 244 in the 2006-2007 school year to more than 360 in the current school year. The number of volunteers has risen from 80 from one church to more than 330, representing 16 churches and organizations. Community partners have grown from one to 18.
And there’s more! Community support is tremendous. County officials loan a building for the organization’s distribution center. Community partners contribute fresh fruit, graphic design, website services, legal and accounting services, printing, a building sign, and dental hygiene products just to mention a few. Area newspapers provide extensive media coverage. The school administration and counselors provide countless hours of support – from sending letters and participation forms home to distributing the meal bags to the children to protect their privacy.
A Bird’s Eye View. During the 2006-07 school year, a total of 34,960 meals were packed. Volunteers, including the working board members, donated more than 3,440 hours at a value of more than $11,700. Community partners donated items for free or reduced costs at a value of $26,250.
Nutrition plays a critical role in developing strong minds and bodies. Preliminary unofficial data that evaluates two years of the participating elementary youths’ academic progress shows an overall increase in reading, math and end of grade tests. At the end of this school year, there will be three years of data which will be finalized and graphs prepared. Plus, an observational survey will be conducted.
And what do participants think? School administration and counselors as well as participating parents and youth are pleased.
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the food we received. It helped us so much.”
participating parent
“This program has been eagerly embraced by parents and students alike. Parents have told me that having a source for extra food to tide them over through the weekend is a great benefit that really helps the kids.”
participating counselor
“The food we get in the bags helps because we have food to eat during the weekend.”
participating child
“The Food for Thought program is particularly exciting because feeding the children that may otherwise go without has an immediate impact. While the data to measure the success of this project is sure to follow, all I need to know is that some of our neediest children can fall asleep on the weekend without being hungry, relieving stress on families. Simply put, it impacts children and their families where they are, when they need it most.” Nick Nuzzi, former Dare County Board of Education
“I am pleased to offer my full support for expansion of Food for Thought. This successful innovative
food-distribution project was well received by all involved.”
Sue Burgess, Education Superintendent, Dare County Schools
And what do the meals mean to a child? Let’s take a look.
A True Story
This past Christmas, one of the children that was participating in the Food for Thought program came home without his bag of food. He told his Mom that he did not receive it. Concerned, his mother called the school counselor to ask what had happened. The counselor assured his mother that “Johnny” had received his weekend bag of meals before leaving school.
Armed with this assurance, his mother asked Johnny once again where his bag of food was. With a slight shaking of the head, Johnny responded, “I gave it to my best friend as a Christmas present because it was the most valuable thing I had.”
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