Each week volunteers at First Christian Church, the Caring Place, and Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church create Sack Packs to send home with children for weekend meals and snacks. Volunteers receive deliveries from the Chattanooga Food Bank, pack meal items, and deliver the sacks to schools for distribution on Friday.
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank estimates from demographic studies that one in four children in Bradley County suffers from food insecurity. Over half of the teachers who have students in the Sack Pack program responded that 30 percent or more of their students fall into the food insecurity category. The Sack Pack program allows schools to determine the number of Sack Packs needed each week. These numbers are revisited on a semester basis to ensure that as many children as possible can be served.
All six elementary schools in Cleveland City Schools participate in the Sack Pack program. Dr. Martin Ringstaff, director of Cleveland City Schools, said, “We want our students to have every opportunity to succeed; childhood hunger should not be an obstacle for education in our community. The Sack Pack Program provides a valuable service for our students, and I appreciate their partnership.”
The Sack Pack program is currently funded in part by a grant from United Way. Furthermore, United Way is involved with issues of child hunger by working towards a partnership of churches and other organizations under the umbrella, ‘No Child Hungry’.
Fazoli’s of Cleveland has partnered with Wesley Memorial and the Sack Pack program to raise funds for this program. During the month of October, individuals can purchase Fazoli’s meal tickets for $10. Half of each ticket sold will support the Sack Pack program. Proceeds will be utilized for sustainability and expansion of the Sack Pack program. Meal tickets can be purchased at Fazoli’s, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, and First Christian Church.
Visit www.wesleymemorialchurch.com for information or to donate online.