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"There are people out there who want them to eat and succeed."
Every Thursday a group of local residents take some time out of their day to supper Vernon kids in need.
The volunteers for the Starfish Pack Program fill backpacks with food to send home with a child for the weekend.
"Thursday morning is our exciting time is the Starfish Program," said Carmen Larsen, chair, Starfish Pack committee, Kalamalka Rotary Club. "We get all the backpacks back from the schools and we have different volunteers that come from the eight different schools and they bring the backpacks here. Then we fill the packs for the weekends for the kids."
The packs are filled with fresh fruit, bagels, non-perishable food items and a variety of other healthy items.
"We have a lot of children who come from families where they don't have enough to eat," Larsen said. "Food insecurity is a big problem even in the North Okanagan and while the schools do a really great job of trying to help kids eat during the week with lunch programs and breakfast programs we send home food on the weekends, so that those kids can show up Monday morning with a little bit more energy and a little bit more ready to learn."
At a cost of $525 per child for the school year, the program spends $15 per week to provide six meals in each weekend backpack.
The volunteers often receive notes of gratitude left from parents in the empty backpacks.
One mother left a note that left the volunteers feeling humbled with tears in their eyes.
"She really liked getting the backpacks for the food but also it gave her an opportunity to talk to her son about how the community cares," Larsen said. The letter said, "We as a community need to help each other and he can accept this gift as help and then when he is in a position in the future he will be able to help somebody."
If you would like to give food or cash to the Starfish Pack Program donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club, 3300 37 Avenue, Vernon V1T 2Y5.
Specify Starfish Pack Program in the memo line.
