The Snack Pack Program works to ensure food-insecure elementary students throughout the district have enough to eat on the weekends. Volunteers assemble an average of 400 bags of food each week so kids can return to school fed and ready to learn.
How do children qualify for the program?
Families must complete a Snack Pack Application Form (available in the counselor's office at each elementary school), which includes the USDA Food Security Survey. Each application is scored, and the families who rate as food insecure receive Snack Packs for their children each Friday.
What goes in the Snack Packs and how much do they cost?
With the help of a nutritionist, the district food services department works hard to ensure Snack Pack foods are shelf stable, simple to prepare with or without adult assistance, and nutritionally substantive. Snack Pack menus change each week, and include a mix of the following items:
Fruit juice boxes, shelf-stable white and chocolate milk, fruit snacks, instant oatmeal, granola bars, cereal bars, beef sticks, fresh apples and oranges, snack items, peanut butter crackers, and single-serve packets of cereal, Easy Mac and Ramen noodles.
Each Snack Pack costs about $3.50 to $3.75.
How can I get involved?
- Help assemble Snack Packs each week. Volunteers meet around 10 a.m. each Thursday at the Food Services Warehouse, 1420 Broadway.
- Businesses or groups can collect donations to help fund the program.
- We can provide posters and pledge cards to encourage donations from your church, business or group. Donate directly to the Snack Pack program by mailing a check to Bright Futures Joplin, 825 S. Pearl, Joplin, MO 64801. Be sure to designate the donation as intended for Snack Packs! Donations are fully deductible.