M.A.R.K. (Meals for At Risk Kids) Program
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Skipping a meal makes us feel tired, unfocused, and let’s face it a little cranky. Sadly, for some children, this is their reality every day. Many people do not realize that chronic hunger among school children is a common and widespread problem. During the school year, children have access to breakfast and lunch, but what about dinner? What about weekends, holidays, and summer break?
Meals for At Risk Kids, or M.A.R.K., is a program of Hunt County Shared Ministries that provides nutritious food resources for children K-6th grade for weekends and summer break. M.A.R.K. provides 7 nutritious, easy to prepare meals and snacks for approximately 425 children each month.
Research shows that children who are chronically hungry do not do as well in school as their well-fed counterparts. Young children’s brains and bodies need continuous nourishment in order to develop properly. A hungry child can’t focus on a math lesson. A child wondering what he will eat for breakfast on Saturday can’t focus on reading. Teachers report that chronically hungry children often have issues with discipline as well. M.A.R.K., in partnership with the schools, seeks to alleviate the problem of chronic hunger in children.
Referrals for participation in the M.A.R.K. program come from teachers and school counselors. Children remain anonymous and food is a distributed to the children discreetly so that they are not singled out from their peers.
Hunt County Shared Ministries serves all of Hunt County, and plans are being developed to expand M.A.R.K. to other school districts within the county, but we need your support. Donations are needed for the purchase of the special, easy to prepare, kid friendly food. Volunteers are also needed to package the food and deliver it to the schools for distribution to the children.
By partnering with Hunt County Shared Ministries, you can help put food into the hands of the children who need it most.
If you would like a copy of our M.A.R.K. brochure, please click here.
Click here for a copy of the M.A.R.K. application.
