Despite their many differences, students seem to have one thing in common: they cannot wait for the weekend! However, for many students, the weekend represents not knowing when or how they will be able to eat. Unknown to many people, food insecurity is a large issue throughout Manchester. Every week, over 1,100 bags of weekend food are packed and distributed to 21 schools for children in need, as part of the Fueled By Kids nonprofit organization. The bags are given to students of all ages, with some even receiving two or three bags. In 2016, Grace Mikol founded Fueled by Kids after having a conversation with a teacher at Parker Varney at her brother’s basketball game. The teacher mentioned that there were a number of kids at her school who were either homeless, semi-homeless, or on the free and reduced lunch program. Grace and her siblings saw this as a problem they needed to solve. Fueled by Kids has come a long way since then!
How Can We Help?
Every Thursday after school, Fueled By Kids members pack bags at 7 Chestnut Drive. It is a great opportunity to receive Real World Learning hours, but more importantly it allows students at BHS to be a part of something that can benefit their local community. School-issued meals are some students’ main form of food over the weekend. The 68 hour gap between school lunch on Friday and the school breakfast on Monday is a concern for many students and families. Each bag costs about $5 to pack, which means that Fueled By Kids also relies on donations, as well as volunteers. 100% of the donations go directly toward purchasing food, and specific donations cover all other costs. This means that money donated goes directly to feeding Manchester students. Fueled By Kids relies on generous sponsors such as AutoFair, E & R Cleaners and Cross Insurance, as well as many others. This has allowed the organization to grow over time, as the need for food bags has increased. Jill Russell, the current general manager, explains that “the bag count definitely increased after Covid and only seems to go up as students either identified as needing a bag or their family ends up in a position where the child will need a bag.” Jill also emphasized the importance of making sure that the bags are always packed with the same, or similar food, to provide the kids with consistency. “We always make sure that our food is kid friendly, meaning that it is healthy, liked by kids, and easy to prepare.” Another pillar to the organization is how they help these students learn and be less stressed through weekend food bags. Jill adds, “Kids should be focused on being kids, and that is why we aim to alleviate worries about where someone’s next meal is coming from”. Food insecurity is a silent struggle that cannot be tackled alone. For more information on the nonprofit, visit fueledbykids.org or email donate@fueledbykids.org. Come be a part of something that matters.
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