Hemet Unified School District staff serves nearly 22,000 students. Of those students, 78% qualify for free/reduced lunches. We know that we have students who only eat while they are at school and that they leave on Fridays afternoons worrying about what they are going to eat over the weekend. With this thought driving the focus, the Director of Purchasing, Andy McGuire, worked with the Salvation Army to provide food to students while they are not at school.
The Salvation Army has access to funds and resources that can support 100 students until February. While this is an amazing feat, McGuire did not want to stop there. With the help of The Salvation Army, HUSD provided barrels at each school and at the District Office to collect healthy food donations that will be given to our students.
Miriam Ortiz, Parent Engagement Specialist, is working with each school’s Parent Liaison to identify students who are in need. With the written consent from families, students will be provided with healthy meals on Friday afternoon.
This wonderful initiative began the first week of November. So far, there have been students at five different schools that have benefited from this. If you would like to donate food for students within Hemet Unified, please visit your nearest school to make donations. Below is a list of the food items that are being collected. These items were chosen to provide healthy food for students and are simple enough to make with minimal access to a kitchen.
Thank you Andy McGuire, Miriam Ortiz, and those that have already donated to this amazing initiative. Thanks to you, students will be able to come to school with food in their stomach, focused and ready to receive their education.
Items to Donate:
Fruit Cups including Applesauce
Juice Boxes
Healthy Shelf Stable Snacks
Oatmeal Packets
Granola Bars
Cup of Noddles
Canned Entrees
Individual Mac and Cheese Cups
Fruit Snacks
Crackers
Shelf Stable Milk