Bite2Go program combating child hunger in Quincy Schools
The Bite2Go program is providing food to students struggling with food insecurity within the Quincy School District. According to the release from QSD of the Pioneer Elementary students, 88% are low-income, around 20% are from migrant families and 8% are experiencing homelessness. The program was implemented to negate some of the chronic hunger issues students are struggling with.
QSD PHOTO
QUINCY – The reality of chronic hunger and food insecurity faces countless children across Washington, impacting their ability to learn and thrive. In response, Second Harvest has expanded its Bite2Go program to Quincy, providing vital meals to students in need.
The program, which originated in Spokane, received a warm welcome in Quincy this year, following a request for support from Quincy School District Superintendent Nik Bergman.
“It takes a community member to raise his or her hand and say, ‘We have these kids who need help,’” said Steve Durham, vice president of child hunger programs at Second Harvest. “(Nik) gives a voice to kids who we never would have known were out there.”
Currently, four out of five elementary schools in Quincy have access to free food for students lacking regular meals at home. Each school identifies up to 60 children who receive food bags every Friday. Corporate sponsors, including Amway, Microsoft and the Grant County Public Utility District, fund the meals at Ancient Lakes, Pioneer, Mountain View and George elementary schools. Durham expressed hope that another organization will join the effort to extend support to Monument Elementary.
“The students who receive the meals, they get so excited,” said Ancient Lakes Elementary Principal Whitney Gregg. “They look forward to having food over the weekend.”
Durham emphasized the importance of delivering food that children can easily eat.
“Unfortunately, many of them are experiencing homelessness or are transitory, moving from relative to relative, living in a car or an RV,” Durham said.
The program prioritizes single-serving items that require minimal preparation.
Pioneer Elementary Principal Alesha Porter highlighted the program’s discrete nature. With 88% of Pioneer’s students coming from low-income families, the program not only provides calories but also a sense of privacy and ownership, according to the QSD release.
“On a root level, it’s about ensuring that a kid is getting the calories they need,” Durham said. “It’s also a sense of privacy and ownership they might not otherwise experience … they don’t own a lot, some of these kids, and some of these kids might live under the fear that an adult in the household might take their food.”
To learn more about the Bite2Go program and how to support its efforts, visit 2-harvest.org/bite2go.