Marion-Polk Food Share is seeking volunteers to give a few hours of their time to help feed hungry children over Spring Break, March 26 through March 30, at various locations throughout Marion and Polk counties.
This year’s program will involve 39 meal sites in the communities of Salem, Keizer, Silverton, Scotts Mills, Mount Angel, Aumsville, Jefferson, Stayton, Dallas, Independence, Falls City, Hubbard, Woodburn, Gervais and Brooks. These sites will serve an estimated 7,500 meals. They include local schools, churches, apartment complexes, West Salem Boys & Girls Club, a library, a community center and a bowling alley. Community partners involved in the lunch program include Salem-Keizer School District and 10 other area school districts, Sodexo, Salem Housing Authority and Boys and Girls Clubs. Enrichment activities will be provided by A.C. Gilbert House and Salem-Keizer Education Foundation.
“We need volunteers who will assist with serving food as well as those who would help to make this Spring Break fun by doing activities with the kids during the lunch time,” said MPFS volunteer administrator Janet Spingath.
The No Hungry Child Spring Break Lunch Program seeks to make sure that children, ages 1 to 18, have a nutritious lunch available to them. The program sites are in high need areas where many of the children qualify for federal free or reduced-price lunch because of their family economic situation.
“For many served by the Spring Break program, school lunch is a vital meal. We want to make sure children have access to good food when school is out of session,” said program coordinator Nancy Hadley. “In addition to food, we also distribute children’s books in partnership with Reading for All and we try to provide fun activities that engage the children,”
Anyone interested in volunteering or seeking more information may call Spingath at 503-581-3855, ext. 311.
Source: Marion-Polk Food Share www.marionpolkfoodshare.org