NOW Program Making An Impact

A few weeks ago I was at the grocery store purchasing food items for the Nutrition On Weekends program. Now that we are serving more than fifty children in Marshfield, alone, I had a cart full of numerous fruits, vegetables and several loaves of bread. As I emptied the contents of the cart onto the conveyor belt, the woman in front of me commented on the oddity of having so many of the same items for purchase.

I explained to the woman that I was shopping for perishable food items for the week’s food packs going to the children in the Nutrition On Weekends program. She said it sounded like a wonderful program. The woman finished her purchase and was exiting the grocery line when I was tapped on the shoulder from behind.

When I turned around the woman behind me said, “My children have been receiving the food packs since October and I have to tell you what a difference it has made for our family. Thank you for everything you do.” Immediately, I (we) began to cry. The woman would have never had to say anything to me about her children receiving the food packs. I thanked for sharing, with me, the impact the program has had on her family.

Since the Nutrition On Weekends program started last October, Marshfield Area United Way has witnessed the program be embraced by the community. Numerous individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses have reached out wanting to help ensure children in our area aren’t facing food insecurities.

As the program expands to help students at additional schools in the area, Marshfield Area United Way is hoping the community continues to respond to the needs of the program. United Way is looking for donations of non-perishable food items and/or cash donations to help offset the costs of providing the weekly food packs for the remainder of the school year.

The following items are a wish list of items for donation:

• Granola Bars (low in fat and sugar)
• Cereal (Raisin Bran or Life)
• Pretzels
• Fruit snacks (low in sugar)
• Baked chips
• Crackers (whole grain)
• Goldfish crackers
• Animal crackers
• Sugar-free jello cups
• Fruit or applesauce cups
• Raisins/Craisins
• Ziploc sandwich bags

Donations can be dropped off at the Marshfield Area United Way weekdays from 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. More information about the Nutrition On Weekends program is available on Marshfield Area United Way’s website (www.marshfieldareaunitedway.org/NOW.html).