Youth Programs
1 in 6 Hoosier children does not have enough to eat to be healthy…which means that these students come to school on Monday morning too hungry to learn. It’s a big problem, and it calls for a big response.
School-Based Pantries
School-Based Pantries offer a unique opportunity for Gleaners to directly reach children and families in need with fresh, healthy food at convenient and safe locations. Often run by a school counselor, social worker, or teachers and operated in a way that makes the students feel comfortable, school-based pantries succeed at preserving student’s dignity by offering them choices.
We believe in eliminating barriers to accessing hunger relief as a solution to help students stay in school. Whether it’s the student or their family that cannot get enough to eat, it’s our belief that getting food to those who need it most can make a dramatic difference for everyone.
Each school pantry is stocked with the essentials – from fresh produce to frozen meat, and other grocery items to make healthy meals. Schools report that because the pantry is open at regular times and can be opened during an emergency, parents’ trust in the school grows, and their involvement in the student’s life improves. Their children – the students – also have better attendance.
A School-Based Pantry helps students achieve their goals. The pantry is offered to families at no cost to the students or to the school.
Summer Meals for Kids
During summer months when school is out, additional stress is often placed on families already struggling to meet day to day needs. Suddenly, children home from school need breakfast and lunch – not just dinner. For the most desperate among us, this can mean a time when working parents are juggling the added expenses not just of food, but of child care, back-to-school shopping for fall and more. Our Summer Meals for Kids Program utilizes multiple distribution channels to provide free, nutritious meals to families in need. Specific distribution channels include the following: Family Meal Boxes and some School-Based Pantries which remain open during the summer.