Why are kids going hungry when there are programs available?

If you read this newsletter from front to back, then you have already encountered our cover story about East Bank Middle School. No doubt, this story has touched your heart and I hope you feel compelled to help us do something about it. The story, however, may have left you scratching your head and looking for answers to some obvious questions.

QUESTION #1 – Why are these kids going hungry when there are many food programs available like SNAP? Our state does offer a food assistance program called SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). This program is readily available to those in financial need. Unfortunately, there are many families who do not apply for this program. Some reasons may include embarrassment, pride, or apathy due to other circumstances like substance abuse. The roadblock is with the parents. The kids have no say in this matter.

QUESTION #2 – How come child protective services isn’t doing something about this? I cannot pretend to understand much less try to explain the complexity and the challenges CPS faces. I do know the statewide addiction issue is taxing an already overworked organization. Union Mission can do what we do best, care for the hurting people in our state. The politicians can work on how to fix the problem from their end.

QUESTION #3 – Why don’t school’s budgets cover the need for food for these kids? Again, I don’t understand how education funds in our county and state are allocated. I do know the staff position that Nancy holds (mentioned in the cover story) is a relatively new position that KCS is exploring. They are trying to adjust to help address the problem.

While people in the political and educational sectors try to figure out how to fix the issue of food insecurity in our schools, Union Mission can step into the gap and make sure kids have access to food. We have the ability to get food DIRECTLY into the hands of the kids and not have to worry about any “middleman” interfering with this process.

Help us, please. Help us get food into the hands of these kids. Help us identify other schools who have students in the same situation. Pray that we can be given the wisdom and the resources to feed our youngest West Virginians!