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Once the regular school session ended, the federally funded breakfast and lunch programs, which provided healthy and nutrition foods for most of the students in the Mammoth ended. The SaddeBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) Board of Directors has been concerned about the kids for the past few years.
The Board this year decided to try a pilot summer food program; Paula Morgan volunteered to coordinate this effort and establish guidelines for implementation. Paula met with local residents, parents and school administrators to determine the guidelines and how the students qualified for the program and those most in need of support for the summer.
It was determined by the group that each eligible child would receive food for two weeks of breakfasts and lunches. The food was delivered in recycle bags and included in each bag were: individual breakfast cereals, granola bars, fruit roll ups, raisins, peanut butter and cheese crackers, ramen noodles and shelled sunflower seeds. The recycle bags were a reminder to the parents/kids to return in two weeks to get resupplied. The parents were also provided a reminder card with the pickup dates and times. Distributions were done at Kids’ Closet on four Saturdays starting on May 30 and ending on June 25.
The food was purchased at Basha’s Market in Catalina and transported to Kids’ Closet. The SBCO Board extends its appreciation to Basha’s Market and its staff for all their support. The items were picked up on the Wednesday prior to the Saturday distribution day. On arrival at Kids’ Closet, SaddleBrooke volunteers Paula and Frank Morgan, Terri and Bob Kunz, Sandra and Patrick Polencheck and Melanie Stout sorted the food items and into the recycle bags. On the Saturday distribution days Karen Stott, Winnie Clay, Terri Kunz and Paula and Frank Morgan, distributed the summer food bags to the eligible families.
The SBCO Board considered this a successful pilot program and many lessons were learned. The Board will be evaluating this program to determine if it will be continued in the future. Again, a huge thank you to Basha’s, school administrators and community volunteers for their support.
If you have questions, please contact Patrick Polencheck at (520) 825-9123.
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