This week, MMCCU staff had a great time helping pack meals for local kids in the NOW program! Childhood hunger is a pressing issue that affects countless families in our community. In response to this crisis, the Nutrition On Weekends (NOW) program was established as a collaborative, community-driven initiative to provide essential nutrition for children during the weekends. The NOW program acts as a safety net, ensuring that children have access to healthy, ready-to-eat meals when they are not in school and unable to rely on school meals.
In 2012, a survey conducted among Marshfield students, known as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, revealed a startling fact: 20% of students reported going to bed hungry at least once in the past thirty days because there was not enough food in their homes. This alarming revelation prompted the Marshfield Area United Way to pilot the NOW program in October 2013, initially serving twenty-nine children within the Marshfield School District.
Over the next two years, the program expanded its reach, providing nutrition to 250-300 students on an annual basis, encompassing the Marshfield, Auburndale, Granton, and Spencer School Districts, as well as Wood County Head Start. In the 2016-17 school year, the program expanded further to include Loyal and Greenwood School Districts, and in 2017-18, Pittsville and Stratford Schools joined the cause. Today, the NOW program is making a significant impact by serving between 400-450 students weekly. It has also extended its support to include the 4K programs at Grace Lutheran, the YMCA, St. John the Baptist, and Our Lady of Peace schools, as well as virtual and homeschool students.
Recent data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey for Marshfield area schools still indicates a significant need, with 16% of high school students and a troubling 28% of middle school students reporting that they had gone to bed hungry at least once in the past thirty days due to a lack of food at home. The Marshfield Area United Way remains committed to evolving the NOW program by fostering relationships with school leadership and intensifying parental awareness and outreach efforts, all in the relentless pursuit of ensuring that no child in our community goes to bed hungry.
Stephanie Rasmussen shared why the MMCCU team were eager to participate in this critical cause: “We believe in the power of community and the importance of ensuring that every child has access to nutritious meals. By supporting the NOW program, we are investing in the future of our community and helping children thrive.”
The NOW program identifies the following top five needs for donations to support their mission:
- Jelly (Strawberry or Grape)
- Granola Bars
- Fruit Snacks
- Goldfish Crackers
- Animal Crackers
For just $140, you can sponsor a child to receive supplemental food packs for the entire school year. Your sponsorship can make a significant difference in a child’s life.
Each child enrolled in the NOW program receives a weekly food pack that includes essential items such as:
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Cereal
- Snack Mix
- 2 Pieces of Fruit
- Veggies
- Granola bar
- Fruit snacks
- Applesauce/fruit cup
- Mac & cheese/oatmeal
- String cheese
To learn more about the NOW program, visit their website here.
