Summer should be a time of rest and relaxation. But for families facing hunger, the loss of school breakfasts and lunches can be a serious nutrition gap.
That’s why the Food Bank partners with schools like Dixon High School, whose student food pantry stays open all summer long. Thanks to supporters like you, the Rams Vault is well-stocked with groceries that will help students and families get the healthy boost they need when classes are out!
Every Friday afternoon, the Rams Vault is open to students, local families and school staff – whether classes are in session or not. Visitors can shop the pantry to choose the foods that work best for their family and leave the ones that don’t meet their needs. Students can also take home our Kids Nutrition of Weekends (K-NOW) packs, of healthy snacks and easy-to-prepare meals, or use the Vault’s microwaves and toasters to heat up hot snacks to eat on site.
“We didn’t want the kids to have any stigma about it, so that’s why we named it (the Rams Vault),” shares Principal Angela Brown. “We tell everybody that the Vault means that you’re safe.”
Since the Vault opened its doors, Principal Angela says students have embraced the space – even forming a volunteer club (the Rams Vault Herd) to support their fellow students and raise awareness.
“When we first started we had no money and no food,” says Principal Angela. Often, teachers and staff provided food themselves. Students also helped raise money for food and hygiene products by selling chocolates. Local businesses have also chipped in to support the Vault. But partnering with the Food Bank has been a “gamechanger.”
Thanks to supporters like you, these days the Vault is always stocked with nutritious grocery items, from corn masa and pasta to shelf-stable chicken and milk.
“It has changed our lives,” says Principal Angela. “We are feeding so many more people.”
The Food Bank’s K-NOW packs (left) provide healthy snacks and easy meals for students, while groceries like beans and pasta (right) can be taken home to their families.
Every kid deserves a chance to succeed
You can give our neighborhood kids the nutrition they need to do their best this summer – and in the school year ahead. Your gift will support programs like Farm 2 Kids, Kids Nutrition on Weekends and our School Pantry Program, which provide healthy food for kids and their families at schools like Dixon High. Every $1 donated = food for 2 nourishing meals!
