FORK….COMMUNITY GROUP SUPPORTING KIDS
Students face many challenges in school and in their daily lives. The news shares stories about bullying, the effects of cell phones, anxiety and depression, all of which are real life issues which require support. One that does not get as much attention, but is just as important, is food insecurity. According to Feeding America “Food insecurity is the lack of reliable access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food.” This challenge of basic needs is a real problem locally and one that is now being tackled by Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK).
The number of students facing food insecurity in our community and schools is on the rise. In schools, we measure a similar data point in students who are in need of Free or Reduced lunches, as determined by the federal government. At Phelps this number is on the rise, with over 51% of our students getting this assistance and multiple schools having over 50% and as high as 60+% of the students. We also know of many more families that do not fit this exact criteria, or do not fill out the proper paperwork; however, they do fit the food insecurity definition.
FORK was formed to help assist with the growing need for students to have their basic nutritional needs met. FORK is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to raise money to provide nutritional support to school aged children from food insecure homes within the Phelps School District and others in Vilas county. FORK is made up of local volunteers who have been involved in this work prior or know of the need and want to support kids.
FORK does not focus on the reason kids get to this point. Kids do not get to pick their situation; they do have to live with it though.
FORK’s mission from the beginning has been to raise money to provide meals to students from food insecure homes within the multiple districts in Vilas county. FORK is also in a position to educate our community, parents and students about the need.
Other groups have been supporting these kids with programs like the Vilas County Food Pantry, the Backpack Program. To take advantage of the Weekend Backpack Program, please fill out this form and return to the school. FORK is here to support and work with these organization’s previous work, not to replace it or take it over.
An example of additional work that is going to be done by FORK is a new program. FORK Cares will reach out to children to provide incremental nutritional support during the isolating summer vacation months. Through this new program, children whose families qualify for free school meals during the school year will have the opportunity to receive Fork Cares Packages. To take advantage of the FORK Cares Summer Program, please fill out this form.
A FORK Cares package will consist of 12 supplemental meals and be delivered once a month directly to the child’s home address. “The months of June, July and August present as a food desert for many children. The FORK Cares program will, at least, begin to address these challenges for the children who participate," states FORK President Perry Pokrandt.
The summer vacation challenge around food insecurity for school-aged children is large, and FORK Cares needs your help to take on that challenge. Individuals who would like to participate financially can simply go to the FORK Cares link below.
The bottom line is that if a kid is not able to have their basic nutritional needs met, they are unable to physically or mentally mature properly. Kids who are not being fed properly also are less likely to have dreams and goals. FORK is working with the community, who has already been a great support, to help kids have their basic needs met. If you would like to make a donation, volunteer or learn more about FORK or FORK Cares, please reach out at either of the links listed below.
Visit FORK's Facebook page and their website to learn more.
