We Can Help Our Ferguson-Florissant Schools Feed Middle and High School Students on the Weekends
Feeding each mind, one child at a time
Have you heard the expression “It takes a village to raise a child”?
This implies that the community, together with the family, helps nourish a child’s mind and body. Both the mental and physical growth of a child is dependent upon good nutrition. We know that some children are unable to receive proper nutrition due to financial hardships within the family and may not know when or from where their next meal is coming. These children may need additional support from the community. Increasing a child’s ability to receive nutrition increases the brain’s ability to work, thus providing “Food for Thought.”
The “Food for Thought” (FFT) program was developed by the Ferguson-Florissant School District to respond to the needs of middle and high school students whose families need ” a little something extra”, as well as preschool students who often have limited access to food outside of school. Operation Food Search provides this service to our elementary students in need of food.
Teacher Driven
The Food for thought program is donated and collected by the staff and community at seven participating schools. At the end of each week, the food is given to students who need food over the weekend. Coordinated by the social work team, the program was officially launched as a self-sustaining program on October 26, 2012.
There are eight schools participating in the program: McCluer North High School, McCluer High School, McCluer South-Berkeley High School, Cross Keys Middle School, Ferguson Middle School, Berkeley Middle School, the Mark Twain Student Support Center and the Early Childhood Center. And STEAM
If you, or a family you know, would like to participate in this program, and you have a student at one of the participating schools, please contact the FFT liaison at the corresponding school for an application. The liaisons at each school for the 2017-2018 school year are as follows:
- McCluer North High School: Liz Dollanbacher
- McCluer High School: Joseph Hosea
- McCluer South-Berkeley High School: Allison Walton
- Cross Keys Middle School: Kelsey Laitinen and Britani Hollis
- Ferguson Middle School: Kristin Reese
- Berkeley Middle School: LaDonna Barnett
- Early Childhood Center: Sue Rockow
- STEAM: Erica Snelson
What To Collect and Donate
Suggested donation items include, but are not limited to: individual microwavable meals, canned pasta, nutrigrain bars, oatmeal, cans of soup, cans of vegetables, tuna, peanut butter and Jelly, macaroni and cheese, and snack items. (No glass jars of any kind, please.)
If you have any questions about the FFT program, please contact one of the following district social workers:
- Debbie Bodden, MSW: 524-3872 ext. 1035
- Yolanda Rodgers-Garvin: 839-5959 ext 280
- Steve Weeks: 506-9987
Everyday Fellowship will collect food items every Saturday evening. Please drop your items off with Chris in the media booth or contact Ken or Sue Baehr. We will gather the goods and make quarterly deliveries to the schools.
