To nourish a mind, we must first nourish the body
40% of Elementary children in Red Wing qualify for Free & Reduced meals; sometimes these are the only meals they can rely on.
In a recent round of Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, schools in the United States with a subsidized meal rate of 10% or less produced students who scored 551 on reading, second only to Shanghai. At the other end, students at schools with a population of 75% or more qualifying for free and reduced meals scored only 446. This data reminds us that US Schools do well by students who come to school ready to learn, but it is impossible to ignore the persistent correlation between poverty and performance.
Packing for the Weekend started in January, 2011 at Sunnyside School in Red Wing, by sending bags of food home with 30 children, chosen by the school. Each bag contains food for two full meals for a family of four and additional snacks for children. There are four menus that rotate monthly. Because of a caring and generous community we have been able to continue the program over the summer months.
Anticipated Outcomes of participation in Packing for the Weekend for students:
provide needed nutrition
improve attention spans
ease anxieties
raise academic performance
reduce absenteeism
increase self esteem
How to help:
Volunteer to donate food items (must be shelf stable, easy to prepare, nutritionally sound)
Donate money to purchase food items
Volunteer to fill bags one or two weeks per month
Coordinate volunteers for weekly bag filling
Volunteer to assist with record keeping, or food ordering
Collect food items from drop off points
Help stock shelves
Help distribute posters and marketing materials
Make an in-kind donation of products or services (printing, bags, paper etc.)
For more information contact:
Maureen Nelson
651-388-6309
maureen.nelson@uw-gwp.org