On November 14th & 15th over a dozen community members volunteered their time to help pack 200 bags of food that were then distributed to families through local schools. Great Northern Services’ Snack bag program offers this resource to participating schools, currently reaching students in the communities of Weed, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, and McCloud.
“We are very thankful for these volunteers. It is so generous of them to give up their personal time for others,” says Evelyn Kent, Community Services Administrative Assistant at GNS, “Everyone was very kind-hearted and eager to help in any way possible. We appreciate all the effort they have put in, and hope they will continue to be involved.”
The Snack Bag program is funded through grants from Dignity Health and the Ford Family Foundation and from individual contributions through campaigns like North State Giving Tuesday. The program helps reduce the financial strain experienced by low income families who typically rely on the school lunch program and who may struggle to make ends meet when these meals need to be provided at home during breaks.
“I was at a school picking up the applications and a little boy came in and said ‘Alright! We get our bags today!’” says Heather Solus, Community Services Director at GNS, “The kids are stoked when they get their bags.”
If you would like to support the Child Nutrition Programs at GNS you can sign up to volunteer to pack snack bags for Winter Break. Help is needed December 17th – 19th. Go to www.gnservices.org/volunteer, or call 530-938-4115 ext. 128. You can also make a monetary contribution to the programs.