Snack Pack provides nutritional food for students who do not have enough to eat through the weekend. A growing need for the basics of a healthy meal has been identified in Lexington/Richland School District 5. The hope in supplying nutritional food is not only to fill a hungry belly, but also to give children the focus to be ready to learn come Monday morning with ought the worry of hunger. Snack Packs are delivered by school social workers and school counselors.
During the 2019-20 school year, the Foundation served more than 700 students, representing about 4% of the student population.
With the help of Missions Grants, we have packed just over 100 packs so far this year and have been supported through food donations between 30-40%. We have had a lot of involvement of RADIUS Church partners with packing, shopping and delivery.
While we don’t get to meet the students who benefit from our program, this project has been particularly healing for me though. I’ve lost both of my parents in the past few years and the programs similar to this one really helped our family during my dad’s illness and following his death. My younger brother was still in high school and lived with me during that time.
It’s been truly wonderful to help give back to the schools and work with the social workers. I personally know how much a small pack of food or some toothpaste, soap and deodorant can’t really mean a lot during a hardship!
-Meggan Arnold, RADIUS Irmo