While many children wish for dolls, trucks, or video games to be found under their Christmas tree, some simply hope for food. Food insecurity is a real problem, and it heightens when the holidays roll around and students are on extended breaks from school. Not only are there more days for these families to feed their children, but a concern that they might not be able to afford to prepare a special holiday meal.
Thanks to the work of founder Heather Mammen of No Child Hungry, and the nonprofit organization's generous contributors and volunteers, the children of the Eagle Grove School District won't have to worry about this. While Brown has been collecting food for kids in need since last year, she officially established No Child Hungry and was able to deliver food for these kids over Thanksgiving Break just this November. They sent more food home with these students for Christmas.
"The thought of anyone, especially the most vulnerable in our own community not having their basic needs met during the longer breaks off school hurts my heart," said No Child Hungry volunteer Jen Schild. "That some kids dread holiday breaks instead of looking forward to them is devastating. Not knowing what or when they will eat for days at a time when the school is not open to provide nourishment. Being able to ease those fears and provide them with the basics is a joy and a privilege.
Mammen said they started preparing for the Christmas break right after Thanksgiving was over. She was thrilled to receive many donations on Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday). But donations are always welcomed to help build up for the next long break. Venmo donations can be sent to @NoChildHungry, checks sent to PO Box 375 Eagle Grove, IA 50533, or you can contact her via Facebook for other ways to donate.
"Feeding children is always important to us, but especially during the holiday season," said Mammen . "It's a time when most are celebrating and looking forward to family meals and gifts, but also a time when food insecure children become even more concerned about where their next meals may come from. You see, when school is in session (even while remote learning due to COVID), school breakfast and lunch may be the only sure meal for some children. The work that we do here at No Child Hungry ensures that even during time away from school, these children are still confident that they will have food to eat."
Mammen explained that each bag of food sent home with the kids contains as much fresh produce as possible so kids can have healthy snacks. Apples, bananas and oranges are staples in the food bags for this reason.
While there are many generous contributors who make this possible, there are also many hands-on volunteers that help package food, shop, and more. Those lending a hand for the Thanksgiving bags were Jen Schild and her daughter, Kendra; Chelsea and Brenna Grandgeorge; Chelsea Woodbeck and her daughter Tucker; Mackenzie Pohlman, Teri Jo Pohlman, and high school students Dakota Alt and Sabrina Flumerfelt. Mammen is also very proud that her own young children, Everly and Sullivan, also want to be involved in helping these kids out.
"And Crystal Hovland lent us her truck to deliver the food," said Mammen. "I couldn't have done it as smoothly without her."
There are so many ways to bring joy this holiday season. No Child Hungry allows us the opportunity to spread that joy EVERY day to kids who most need it.
