DECEMBER 4, 2013

Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center provides snack packs for hungry children

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foothills food bankCAVE CREEK – Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center is helping hungry children in the Cave Creek Unified School District by providing special snack packs.

The Snack Pack program came about when retired Scottsdale resident Carmine Furioso, who is assisting the food bank, joined up with Gina Durban, director of education and community services for the district. The Snack Pack program provides 102 children with meals every weekend. The meals are planned using a nutritionist’s advice. Each meal pack includes a breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as two snacks for Saturday and Sunday. The meals are assembled by volunteers and delivered to the schools on Fridays in donated plastic bags.
Children who receive the Snack Packs participate in the Federal School Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Approximately 11 percent of families in the northern foothills school district qualify for the Snack Pack Program.

According to Furioso, the Cave Creek food bank program costs a little more than $5 per child each week. The program, which is funded by a federal grant and donations fund, is offered in seven elementary and middle schools. Soon, it also will be offered to high school students.