POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – As local learners return to school, community members recently pooled their resources to ensure no child goes hungry, with a focus on l Wilcox Elementary School.

Wilcox Principal Krista Campos accepted the donation along with Kim Jackman, the Wilcox Community Resource Worker.

Representatives leading the initiative included: Ruth Chapter #3, Order of the Easter Star, Portneuf Lodge #18, AF & AM and Bethel #1, Job’s Daughters International. Each year, Chapter President Ruth selects a charity to support. For the year 2021-2022, Worthy Matron, Peggy Garvin, and Worthy Patron, Mike Sutton, have decided to support a local elementary school. Ms Garvin knew Wilcox through her sister, Ms Penny Jones, who spent her career working in primary school. The group named the program “Feed a Hungry Child” with the aim of raising money to help children who may not be able to buy school meals. Once she heard about the project, former Wilcox learner and Honored Queen Atticus Lewis approached the members of Bethel #1 to support their efforts.

In addition to a generous donation from the Job’s Daughter, Mike Sutton, who is the Worshipful Master of the Portneuf Lodge, made a request to the Masons for their support, which was also generously granted. In total, the fundraising initiative raised $1,600 for Wilcox to be allocated exclusively towards providing meals to learners who may be food insecure.

Wilcox Elementary School serves over 525 K-5 learners. The elementary school is part of Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 (PCSD 25).

Voluntary donations like this are one of many palliatives that PCSD 25 relies on to support learners who, in addition to other challenges, may be at risk or experiencing food insecurity. School administrators and community resource workers (CRWs) are at the forefront of these efforts. The CRW team regularly works with school families in a family-centered, team-oriented approach to collaborate with community services, businesses, churches, police, community organizations and individual community members to help meet the needs of children and families throughout the year. . These collective efforts support learners and their families while helping them overcome barriers that may prevent them from accessing the resources needed to improve their chances of success.

“This donation allows Wilcox staff to ensure that each learner eats breakfast and/or lunch each day,” Campos said. “Our families will greatly benefit from the Let’s Feed a Hungry Child program. The generosity shown to our Wilcox families by these three wonderful community organizations is overwhelming and greatly appreciated.