In just a matter of a few months, a new non-profit program has helped a number of Watson Elementary students. Started in April, Food For Thought is a non-profit program coordinated by the St. Elizabeth Guild of St. Anthony Catholic Church that focuses on student improvement in attendance, concentration and academic performance. Blackshere also has a similar program that is run through the Mannington food pantry.
Participating students bring home a bookbag filled with at least 10 healthy snacks each weekend. Items range from granola bars, fresh fruit and juice, to flip top pasta and beef sticks.
“The nutrition a child has can coincide with their ability to focus, so what we’re trying to do is to provide the nutrition over the weekend when they’re not in school,” Dalton said.
With limited funding, the program first started with only Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten classes. However, program coordinators are hoping to extend this opportunity to other grade levels.
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