First published April 17, 2013 in The Platte County Citizen
LEE STUBBS, Citizen Editor
www.plattecountycitizen.com

Business helping fight student hunger

Platte Valley Bank holding BackSnack program awareness event April 24.

Platte County is widely viewed as a wonderful place to live and one of the best counties in not only the state, but in the Midwest to raise children.

So how is it possible that thousands of county children may not be getting enough to eat at home?
Since 2009, the Northland Childhood Hunger Initiative (NCHI) has strived to provide an answer to that question as well as make sure those students don’t receive their best – or even only - meals of the week at school. Founded by the Northland Community Foundation, NCHI has worked with Harvesters the last several years on its BackSnack program. Through the program, needy schoolchildren receive nutritious, child-friendly food to take home with them each weekend. Approximately 3,000 students – with more than 130 more on “waiting lists” - are being helped by the Back Snack program in the Northland, with a majority of those coming in southern Platte County or Clay County. Nearly 200 students in the Platte County R-3 School District are also being helped. But area officials say a need exists in the West and North Platte School Districts as well as continued need at Platte County.

They also say funding for the Back Snack program – garnered mostly through individual and corporate donations - remains an ongoing concern. To that end, one prominent area business is making a push to partner with the NCHI.

Platte Valley Bank will hold a community awareness meeting about childhood hunger and the BackSnack program at 1 p.m. April 24 at its Platte City branch and has also pledged its financial support to the program.

“We feel very strongly about this issue,” Platte Valley Bank Executive Vice President and Marketing Director Susan Baker said. “A hungry child is a hungry child no matter where they are. No child should go hungry.”

Baker said the meeting will include light refreshments and include speakers from area school districts as well as NCHI spokespersons, including Platte City businessman and NCHI board member Chris Donnelli and NCHI Executive Director Chris Evans.

Since its inception in 2004, the Back Snack program has grown to helping 13,000 children each week – approximately 935 of which are in Platte County school districts. That figure includes about 700 at Park Hill, 180 students at Platte County R-3, 30 students at North Platte and 20 students at West Platte. Donnelli said the program runs from October through the end of each school year for students primarily kindergarten through fifth grade.

Donnelli said the BackSnack program helps address not only a hunger issue but education issues.
“Studies show that kids who aren’t hungry have better study habits and make better grades,” he said.
Harvester research statistics back that up. Grades improve by as much as 18 percent for students in the program. School attendance figures also show an increase, as do social skills and health and self-esteem among the students.

“The Back Snack program helps us fill the gap from Friday to Monday when a child may not have adequate food available,” R-3 Nurse Supervisor Sue Jackson said. “Students are better able to be successful in school when their nutrition needs are being met."

Donnelli said while the funding need is met primarily through individual and corporate donations, area civic organizations such as the Platte City and Weston Rotary Clubs have provided financial assistance.
“West Platte is fortunate to have the ongoing support of the Weston Rotary Club and many other sponsors who have helped bring the benefits of the Back Snack Program to our students, “ West Platte Superintendent Dr. Jerrod Wheeler said. “The daily job of educating students is remiss if their basic nutritional needs are not met. The service and quality nutrition which is provided through this the Back Snack Program meets those needs, making the service invaluable to the welfare, growth, and education of our students. West Platte is so very appreciative of each individual and sponsor who participates in the program and we send a special thank you for the ongoing support.”

Platte Valley Bank recently funded costs for North Platte’s Nutrition Club, which helps District elementary and middle school kids in need.

“They work on health goals, and discuss good food habits,” North Platte Superintendent Dr. Jeff Sumy said. “This has been one of the most successful community partnerships started in the past couple of years.”

But Donnelli said the roughly $60,000 needed annually to meet program costs at Platte County R3, West Platte and North Platte are “continuing needs.”

“Our goal is to build a sustainable funding model like a tree with some root structure to it such as individual and corporate donors,” he said. “One-time gifts are great and they certainly help, but child hunger issues don’t go away at the end of the year.”

Donnelli said a $250 donation will feed one student for one school year, but donations of any size are accepted.

For more information about the Platte Valley Bank meeting or to donate, call Baker at 858-5400.
Persons may also help combat childhood hunger in the community by sending tax-deductible donations to the Northland Community Foundation, c/o the Northland Childhood Hunger Initiative Fund, 1055 Broadway, Suite 130, Kansas City, MO 64105. Donations may also be made online at the Northland Childhood Hunger Initiative's website, www.feednorthlandkids.org.