September is Hunger Action and Awareness Month.
Did you know that Collin County is the second wealthiest county in Texas, and yet 44,530 or 20% of children in Collin County are food insecure?
Did you know that Plano is one of the most affluent cities in the country, but over 7,000 or 29% of children in 49 PISD early childhood and elementary schools are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program?
Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere is helping address the issue of chronically hungry early childhood and elementary school children in Plano by partnering with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) to provide children in need with a backpack filled with nutritious, shelf-stable food, every Friday during the school year. Each backpack contains at least 60% of a child’s nutritional needs for the weekend.
The Food 4 Kids – Plano project has grown to 1,400 backpacks distributed weekly to children, with more receiving backpacks of food every week. All 49 elementary and early childhood schools of Plano Independent School District are enrolled in the F4K – Plano program. Through this partnership, Mayor LaRosiliere and NTFB are motivating Plano’s corporations, families, faith, educational and civic organizations to raise awareness, advocacy and funds that will end hunger in their community.
So how can you help?
Peanut butter. An easy source of energy and protein, peanut butter is a pretty magical spread. Throughout the month of September, in partnership with the Plano Mayor and City Council, the North Texas Food Bank will be collecting plastic, regular-sized peanut butter jars. So let’s empty the peanut butter shelves at Walmart, Kroger and Target and feed hungry children all year.
For more ways to help feed our local kids, visit ntfb.org/planokids.
North Texas Food Bank | 4500 S Cockrell Hill Rd, Dallas, TX 75236 | 214.330.1396
