Heartland Early Education

Goal: $10,000.00

Specific Need

Heartland Early Education's project is hoping to raise $10,000 for our Weekend Food Support Program. This will provide necessary funds to purchase food supplies used to fill the bags that go home with participating children each week. Feedback from classroom staff regarding the number of children who appeared to be impacted by food insecurities is unsettling. Unfortunately, the Food Bank of Kansas program is only funded for elementary and middle school students and doesn't include the younger years. Behaviors from children impacted by food insecurity includes extreme hunger on Monday's following the weekend, lingering around the meal table, asking for muliple refills or making statements about not having food at home. Heartland began the Weekend Food Support Program in 2018 and there are no signs of this need diminishing. Program staff volunteer their time to pack the bags. We have been fortunate to receive donations and a small grant to fund this need but due to rising food costs, it isn't enough.