Donation aids weekend food program
WAYNESBURG – The Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation recently donated $12,000 to the Weekend Food Program to help the county’s fight against hunger.
The donation through the Community Foundation of Greene County will provide weekend meals for nearly 1,570 children who do not have access to the free and reduced school breakfasts and lunches.
“The Weekend Food Program is a vital program and we are thrilled to be able to partner with the Community Foundation on such a worthwhile endeavor,” Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation Executive Director Dave Jones said.
The organizations realized some children needed food over the weekends after hearing stories from food service directors, guidance counselors and community members about students coming to school hungry. The county’s Weekend Food Program was created in 2012.
“The program is really making a difference,” said Sean Stark, food service director for Carmichaels Area School District. “To see the smiles on the kids’ faces after receiving their first pack is incredibly rewarding.”
The pack includes six light nutritional meals that require no preparation and are non-perishable, such as peanut butter, juice packs, oatmeal bars and cereal packs. At $195 per year per child, children receive the packs for the 37-week school year. The program is active in all five school districts in Greene County and served 146 children last school year.
The Community Foundation serves as a facilitator and fiscal sponsor of the program.
To learn more about the Weekend Food Program, call 724-627-2011 or visit the CFGC’s website at www.cfgcpa.org.