New program to provide food to needy Primary students over the weekend

RED OAK—The Red Oak School Board last Monday night unanimously approved a new food program for students at the Inman Primary School, with the possibility of the program expanding throughout the district.
The program will begin some time in January. There is no exact date, due to an orientation process that needs to take place. Kandee Olson, who presented the program to the board, said the program could start placing orders a week after the orientation.
The program, which has no official title, will involve the school providing child-friendly non-perishable food items to students that receive free and reduced lunches in their backpack before going home for the weekend.
Students will receive a pack that includes two breakfasts, two entrees, two healthy snacks, two fruit juices and boxed milk.
Olson told the directors that the Weekend Food Program has enough funding for 20 percent of the students at Inman. The program would cost $4 per weekend for students, which equates to $144 per year for one student.
Olson said the program is geared more towards students that are on their own for the weekend, due to parents working.
The program will be funded by volunteers, donations and from the Food Bank of the Heartland in Omaha. Olson said she would go outside the community for donations.
“There’s only so much money that can go around in our community,” she said.
Food Bank of the Heartland will prepare and package the food for students.
While the program was approved for Inman, Washington was mentioned as also being a possibility for the program.
Olson said she would like for the program to go to Washington, as long as the funding is there.
“My fear is, until I know the funds are there, I don’t want to get ahead of the game and tell the kids that have gotten use to it after three or four months that ‘well we don’t have enough funding, we’re going to have to cut out this program’,” she said.
Children are referred to the program by either the principal or teaching staff. Those referred will receive a letter, with a permission form for parents to sign. The students won’t be able to take part until the form is signed.
Food Bank of the Heartland helps out 32 school districts with weekend food programs and will handle the funding for Inman.
The school board also approved a first reading of a revision to the Licensed Employee Early Retirement policy.
Another first reading was approved by the board in regards to the policy code on Tobacco Free Environment.
Also approved was a one-year contract extension with Drive Tek to continue providing Drivers Education instruction to the Red Oak school district.