2012 Summer MeaningFULL Meals Project
There are approximately 45,000 students in the Guilford County School System who qualify for free or reduced price meals. For 180+ days each year, these students consistently know where their breakfast and lunch will come from.
What happens when school lets out?
Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. Hunger also may make children more prone to illness and other health issues. 1
We believe that children should not have to worry where they will find their next meal.
While Guilford County Schools provides seven Greensboro locations for summer meals, United Way’s 2012 Summer MeaningFULL Meals project seeks to provide substantive meals for students in the Gillespie Park Elementary and Wiley Elementary School communities for the 10 weeks school is not in session.
Because of generous contributions, last summer approximately 100 families received weekly bags of non-perishable food at Gillespie Park Elementary School.
This year we are expanding the MeaningFULL Meals program to include students in United Way of Greater Greensboro’s African American Male Mentoring Pilot Program, located at Wiley Elementary School. Both the Wiley Elementary School Principal Dr. Shelia Gorham and Mentoring Program Director Rashard Jones are excited to learn that the progress gained by the 50 young men in grades 2-5 will be supported by a unified effort to provide nutritional meals for the students over the summer break. In addition to MeaningFULL Meals, participants in the AAM Mentoring Pilot Program at Wiley will also participate in a summer enrichment program.
LIVE UNITED and get involved!
GIVE
Donate food items including:
Mac & Cheese (microwaveable); Canned Veggies; Bread; Tuna & Chicken (vacuum sealed); Ramen Noodles; Fruit Cups; Applesauce; Fruit Roll-Ups; Juice Boxes; Dried Rice & Beans; Peanut Butter & Jelly (pre-made or individual jars); Breakfast Cereal (hot and cold); Pop-Tarts; Graham and Other Snack Crackers; Chips; Pasta & Spaghetti Sauce; Freeze Pops; Hamburger Helper; Single Serve Size Spaghetti & Lasagna (non-perishable)
Donations can be dropped off at United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Office (1500 Yanceyville St., Greensboro) Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
ADVOCATE
Share facts about summer-time childhood hunger with your friends and colleagues. Click here to download one fact for each week throughout the summer.
Coordinate a food drive at your workplace. We need sustained drives from now until the end of August. Contact Tamera Zigalar (Leadership Giving Manager) at 336-378-6604 for additional information about coordinating a drive.
VOLUNTEER
Sign up to pack bags and distribute food on a Tuesday or Thursday at either Gillespie Park or Wiley Elementary school. Distribution begins Tuesday, June 12 and ends Thursday, August 23. Click here to register as a volunteer.
1-US Dept. of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program (www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/)
