SWFL nonprofit feeds school children in need, preventing weekend food insecurity
The Blessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida (SWFL) Chapter recently added four more schools to its roster in an effort to continue the end food insecurity.
“[Blessings in a Backpack is] a national organization feeding 100,000 children,” said Cecilia St. Arnold, managing director of the SWFL Chapter. “We supplement the free breakfast, lunch program on weekends. We target Title 1 elementary school students. We are feeding over 6,700 children in four counties. Our biggest is Lee and Collier. We’ve just entered Henry and Glades County this year.”
Spring Creek Elementary in Bonita Springs, Central Elementary in Clewiston, Moore Haven Elementary in Moore Haven, and Pinecrest Elementary in Immokalee are now on the list.
Title I provides additional resources to schools with economically disadvantaged students. These include additional teachers, professional development, extra time for teaching, parent involvement activities and other activities designed to raise student achievement.
St. Arnold said the pre-K through 5th grade students receive two meals for breakfast and two meals for lunch.