Embedded Files
Food insecurity is a major issue in cities and towns all across Maine. In Westbrook we have a 67% free and reduced lunch school population. Several years ago my mother asked what the kids that received special food packs over weekends did during vacations and over the summer? We knew that the schools worked with Good Shepard Food bank and the Locker Project to provide extra food, but we recognized a bigger need. That is when Families Feeding Families was formed. We started making PB&J sandwiches and packing lunches to drop off at different sites throughout the city. We were supported by the generous donations from members of our church and the wider Westbrook community. We quickly realized that we could not keep this production up and started making up bags that contained a jar of peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread. Currently we bring 100 bags to the three Westbrook elementary schools before Christmas, February, and April vacations. We are fortunate that we have a summer lunch program that offers lunches at multiple sites throughout the city. Our high school and middle school also have food pantries that are available to any student who needs help.
Food insecurity is a major issue in cities and towns all across Maine. In Westbrook we have a 67% free and reduced lunch school population. Several years ago my mother asked what the kids that received special food packs over weekends did during vacations and over the summer? We knew that the schools worked with Good Shepard Food bank and the Locker Project to provide extra food, but we recognized a bigger need. That is when Families Feeding Families was formed. We started making PB&J sandwiches and packing lunches to drop off at different sites throughout the city. We were supported by the generous donations from members of our church and the wider Westbrook community. We quickly realized that we could not keep this production up and started making up bags that contained a jar of peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread. Currently we bring 100 bags to the three Westbrook elementary schools before Christmas, February, and April vacations. We are fortunate that we have a summer lunch program that offers lunches at multiple sites throughout the city. Our high school and middle school also have food pantries that are available to any student who needs help.
With all of these services being offered, the bigger question is why? Why are so many families struggling to feed themselves and how can we help? In Westbrook it would cost us about $300,000 to feed all of our students breakfast and lunch. I would like to see all school districts, including Westbrook, be able to add this cost to their school budget and feed all their students. We know that hungry kids don't learn so we need to get rid of this barrier.
With all of these services being offered, the bigger question is why? Why are so many families struggling to feed themselves and how can we help? In Westbrook it would cost us about $300,000 to feed all of our students breakfast and lunch. I would like to see all school districts, including Westbrook, be able to add this cost to their school budget and feed all their students. We know that hungry kids don't learn so we need to get rid of this barrier.
How can we do this? School budgets are already stretched thin and adding this cost into a budget is not possible for many.
How can we do this? School budgets are already stretched thin and adding this cost into a budget is not possible for many.
In 2004, Maine voters passed a referendum directing state government to pay 55% of local school costs. So far the state has not fully fulfilled this requirement. Additional revenue from the state will go a long way to help school districts feed their students.
In 2004, Maine voters passed a referendum directing state government to pay 55% of local school costs. So far the state has not fully fulfilled this requirement. Additional revenue from the state will go a long way to help school districts feed their students.
Click on this link to visit the Maine Department of Education website that talks about school funding:
Click on this link to visit the Maine Department of Education website that talks about school funding:
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse