Students who show up to school hungry start their day at a disadvantage. Hungry students face greater distraction in class, developmental delays and mental health problems. Many times, missing meals is not the student's choice.  

In Pottawatomie County, residents face an eight percent food insecurity rate according to Feeding America. 

The Pottawatomie County Farm Bureau and Jim Waters, a local Farm Bureau Financial Services agent, recognized this issue in the county and knew they needed to help local students. The two organizations came together to donate a total of $500, which was eventually matched by Kansas Farm Bureau’s End Hunger grant. 

The Issue 

When the two groups sat down to address food insecurity in their county, they underestimated the need for free food in schools. Pottawatomie County Coordinator Samantha Eckert shares their original plan was to donate snacks for three local elementary schools.  

“The plan kind of evolved as I began investigating,” Eckert says. “I contacted the schools in the county. Some schools expressed a need for snacks for the school, but other schools had a bigger need for food to go home with the kids over the weekends.” 

This was the case for some students at St. George Elementary School. Eckert reached out to the school’s counselor, Kathleen Paulman, and offered to help provide students with meals. “We definitely have a wide range of needs in our school districts,” Paulman says. “We have some students who live in low-income situations and will benefit from this food donation.   

Eckert took the wide range of needs into consideration when she purchased and distributed food. Some schools wanted snacks, so she purchased granola bars, fruit cups and peanut butter. Other schools, like St. George Elementary, needed a meal option, so she purchased instant ramen, chicken noodle soup and canned ravioli.  

Providing Food 

Eckert had purchased $1,000 worth of food on behalf of Pottawattamie County Farm Bureau at the beginning of the school year. As students filled the classrooms in August, Eckert shared the food with schools and encouraged them to distribute it in a way that best served the students and their needs. 

“One school would sneak food into students’ backpacks so they wouldn’t get embarrassed,” Eckert says. “Another had a closet in an isolated stairwell where students could pick up food whenever they needed it.” 

At St. George Elementary School, Paulman relied on the classroom teachers to connect her with students in need. Teachers would send her a list of hungry students from their class. 

“I would reach out to the students and tell them about the food we had and then provide them with some food to take home,” Paulman says. “I offered them more food if they needed it and the students have definitely come back to me for a refill.” 

To add a special touch to the food products, each package has a sticker that reads, “You are loved. Have a great day!” 

“The stickers were there so the kids know where it came from and that even though they might feel insecure about having to take food home, it’s coming from a good place,” Eckert says. “We want them to know that it doesn’t matter if they don’t have food, they don’t have to be ashamed.” 

The Impact 

Pottawatomie County Farm Bureau shared half of the purchased food with the schools at the beginning of the year to get students off to a good start. The remainder of the non-perishable goods will be distributed toward the end of the semester.  

Paulman has seen first-hand the impact the donated food has on her students.  

“It is so nice to tangibly say, ‘I can help you by providing food’ instead of just supporting them,” Paulman says. “The students and their families really appreciate the food.” 

She shares the donated food represents a community behind each student. Eckert shared similar remarks.  

“There are kids in these schools whose home life is affecting their learning, which can affect what is going on at school,” Eckert says. “But having a supportive community helps each of these students learn.” 

To learn more about the End Hunger campaign and to donate, visit www.kfb.org/endhunger.  

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: