Snacks for Kids
Kid's Cafe Helps Feed Hungry Kids at Strawberry Village
This past spring, while researching opportunities to better serve our clients at Strawberry Village Cottages, Cook Inlet Housing Authority's Resident Services Coordinator learned that resident children were visiting the Strawberry Village Cottages on-site office after school looking for something to eat. The kids were hungry.
The principal of Gladys Wood Elementary School confirmed that hunger is an obstacle for many students from Strawberry Village Cottages, and Cook Inlet Housing kicked a new plan into action.
On April 1, in cooperation with Kids' Cafe, Cook Inlet Housing Authority began serving nutritious after school snacks to children living at Strawberry Village Cottages. Sixteen children filed into the Strawberry Village Cottages community building on the first day of "Snack Time," filling their bellies with sandwiches, fruit and other goodies.
Word of the filling snacks spread quickly among the families at Strawberry Village Cottages, and soon 43 children ranging in age from 2-16 were enrolled in the program. This level of participation offered an opportunity to do more than just feed the kids a nutritious snack: this after-school program became a time for the kids to socialize with each other and the adult volunteers as well as get help with their homework.
Three helpful Strawberry Village Cottages parents came forward to volunteer and provide the on-site CIHA staff member much needed assistance. CIHA staff and volunteers served nearly 1500 snacks between April 1 and June 2.
During Snack Time hungry bellies were filled, friendships were fostered and sense of community was encouraged. The program was a smashing success and Cook Inlet Housing Authority hopes to work with Kids Cafe and other community organizations to provide after school snacks, tutoring and other enrichment activities during the upcoming school year.
If you’re interested in donating time or money to this or other Cook Inlet Housing Authority Resident Services activities, contact Liberty Kyser at 338-2314. If you’re interested in donating time or money to Kid's Cafe, contact Shannon Walters at 563-2992.