Living with hunger is a real struggle that many around us are facing, including children – a demographic who should be investing their energy into playing, exploring, learning, and growing.

Last year we met with teachers, principals, and guidance counselors to discuss the topic of childhood hunger, and we were shocked to learn that many children do not eat enough on the weekends since there is no school breakfast or lunch provided on those days. We then piloted the project with 150 elementary school children in Manitowoc County that may not be eating enough on weekends; however, there may be as many as 1,200 children throughout our county who struggle with food insecurity.

Feed Our Future offers families support so their children can grow and thrive. This program provides children nutritious bags of food each week during the school year in order to nourish them on the weekends.

Each student who participates receives 10 ready-to-eat, or easy-to-heat items of food weekly.

Based on a list of designated criteria, participating school representatives (counselors, principals, and teachers) provide us with the total number of students who need help.

Next, Grow It Forward volunteers assemble the appropriate amount of food in bags from the food we have purchased.

Finally, community volunteers pick up food from Grow It Forward and deliver it to specific schools to be distributed on the last day of the school week.

Feed Our Future is provided FREE of charge to all participating schools.