Donations needed again for Weekend Kids Meals program

submitted by Melissa Licavoli, Assistant Director, Manchester Community Resource Center

School’s back in session, and so is our Weekend Kids Meals program!

We’re continuing our mission to support Manchester Community Schools students who face food insecurity when they’re not at school. Currently, over 20 students receive meal kits every weekend. Want to make a difference? We’re calling on individuals and organizations to donate items from this list:

• Breakfast options: Individual-serving-size cold cereal, individual-serving-size oatmeal, cereal bars
• Boxed beverages: Milk (shelf stable please), juice boxes
• Lunch options: Macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, SpaghettiOs or ravioli, ramen noodles, microwavable veggie cups, Rice-A-Roni single-serve cups, Hormel Compleats singles, Chef Boyardee microwave cups
• Snacks: Raisins/dried-fruit snack packs, granola bars, cheese/peanut butter crackers, trail mix, fruit and applesauce cups, jerky sticks, and individual popcorn snack bags
• Also appreciated: Gluten-free versions of the foods listed above for our students with dietary needs

Donations may be dropped off: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9am to 4pm, and Tuesday, noon to 7pm. If you would like to organize a food drive, please call us to coordinate our efforts.

Your contributions will directly support this vital program. Together, we can ensure no student goes hungry. Let’s show our community spirit and support our young learners!

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.