Audubon Community School District Received 580 Power Snack Coupons
posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2019
“When students are hungry, they become distracted and irritable,” said Jill Hermansen, RN, NCSN Audubon Community School. “I sometimes see them asking their peers for food off their tray to take home or save for later. Kids that aren’t hungry can concentrate and learn better.”
According to the Food Bank of Iowa, food insecurity affects 1 in 5 Iowa children.
“When students come to school with a full belly, they have fewer complaints and are typically less tired,” explained Jill. “They are ready to learn.”
While existing school-based food-assistance programs greatly aid the learning process, many students in Audubon Community Schools are still left without food on weekends or extended holiday breaks.
Since 2007, Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation have been passionate about assisting hunger relief efforts in rural Iowa, particularly those directed towards children. Our program, Power Snack, reduces childhood hunger by providing access to nutritious food at home.
“Power Snack provides students with coupons for deli ham and whole wheat bread,” said Jen Sorenson, communications director at Iowa Select Farms. “The goal of the program is to empower children in food-insecure homes by teaching them how to get to the store, shop for nutritious food covered by the coupons and make their own power snacks.”
With support from teachers, principals and nurses like Jill, 91,004 Power Snack coupon booklets will be delivered statewide during the 2019-2020 school year—enough to make 1,092,048 meals.
“What excites me most about this program is knowing that many of our students will be more food secure,” said Jill. “I appreciate knowing I can give them to anyone whom I feel is having a hard time financially and the students will at least have a sandwich for supper instead of going hungry, especially on the weekends. Anything we can do to help them out and teach healthy eating habits is appreciated.”
Jill plans to distribute coupons discreetly to students on the free and reduced lunch list at the end of the day into designated student’s bags or in her office between classes.
In total, 580 Power Snacks were delivered to Jill and the Audubon Community School District—a contribution valued at $4,640.
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