Childhood Hunger
School-Year Initiatives
Empowering kids with nutritional resources at school.
Children should have a hunger for knowledge, ensuring they have a full belly gives them that opportunity. The child nutrition programs provide students across the spectrum with food access both in and out of school. Our goal is to ensure that all kids have access to food and arrive at school fed and ready to learn each day.
Healthy KidsPack
The Healthy KidsPack Program is a weekend supplemental food bag that provides reliable, healthy food access to children across Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson counties. Nutritionally balanced, kid-friendly foods are packed and distributed to local school children every Friday during the school year. The KidsPack program is open to all students at participating elementary schools regardless of their family’s income.
NEW FOR 2020– KidsPack is available for all grade levels.
To sign up or learn more, talk to your school’s front office, or fill out the corresponding form below:
Participating Schools:
- Emily Dickinson
- Hawthorne
- Hyalite
- Irving
- LaMotte
- Longfellow
- Meadowlark
- Morning Star
- Whittier
- Youth Dynamics
- Cottonwood School
- Heck Quaw
- Saddle Peak
- Ridge View
- Monforton
- Gallatin Gateway
- Ophir Elementary
- West Yellowstone
- Manhattan Elementary
- Twin Bridges
- Basin
- Boulder
- Whitehall
KidsPantry
The KidsPantry Program provides in-school and weekend food access to students in Middle and High School. Operating as a pantry, students have the privacy and autonomy to choose items that best suit their needs. Selected items can be taken home or consumed at school as needed. Healthy, kid-friendly foods are distributed each week to participating schools and facilitated through the school’s counselor’s office. To sign up or learn more, talk to your school counselor.
- Sacajawea Middle School
- Chief Joseph Middle School
- Belgrade Middle School
- Belgrade High School
- Three Forks Schools
Support KidsPack and KidsPantry
Did you know 1 in 6 children in Montana struggle with hunger?
The Healthy KidsPacks program distributes more than 11,000 bags of food annually to children across the valley.
Providing a monthly donation of just $20 ensures that one child will have access to nutritional support for four weeks. Donate today
Schools are often spread thin in both time and funds. Sponsoring all or part of a schools cost of KidsPack or KidsPantry can make a huge impact.
To discuss sponsorship options or ideas please contact Lyra at kidspack@thehrdc.org or donate HERE
Volunteer with Childhood Nutrition Programs
Every week close to 500 premade bags go out for KidsPack. Join the volunteer crew that assembles bags for distribution.
Bags are packed with shelf stable food supplies that supplement the entire families food budget and include enough for 3-4 meals depending on how the child or families decide to use the items.
This is a fun activity for kids, families, and co-workers that takes place 3-4 times a month on Tuesday evenings. Sign up to Volunteer
Every week close to 500 premade bags go out to local elementary schools for participating KidsPack recipients.
Join the volunteer crew that delivers bags and pantry supplies weekly or become a substitute driver. Delivering KidsPacks/KidsPantry does involve some physical aspects (lifting packed crates and utilizing a hand-truck). Please note there is a limit of two people per shift due to vehicle constraints.
Deliveries take place in our vehicles. For more information on Volunteering to deliver please email Lyra at kidspack@thehrdc.org
Testimonials:
KidsPack & KidsPantry would not be possible without the generous support from YOU and the following businesses and foundations.
