During the school year the school provides breakfast, lunch, and a snack. However, during weekends and summer break, a gap is created that hinders students from receiving those free meals. This is a program funded entirely by volunteers and strives to provide students with backpacks of food to give to students in need. We create backpacks full of food for the students to carry home on the weekend.
We hope you consider supporting the N.O. Here are three ways you can help.
• Donate online at our Go Fund Me Account
http://www.gofundme.com/tb36eyjg?fb_action_ids=10153433714812573&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_ref=fb_cr_n
•Mail a check: send it directly Atkins First Freewill NOW-Program PO BOX 176 Atkins AR 72823
• Donate food: we are always looking for donations of healthy foods - see suggested items below and deliver to Atkins First Freewill. Food Donations: We welcome food donations as that helps us provide healthier and higher quality items each week. We strive to make the bags healthy and nutritious – while still being appropriate for elementary school children. Here are samples of items we welcome. We need at least 60 of the same items, since that is how many bags go home each week:
• Fruit cups: usually come in packs of 4 so we would need 15 packs; please make sure they are packed in either lite syrup or natural juice
• Packages of oatmeal: usually come in boxes with 8-10 each so we would need 6-8 boxes (kids seem to like the maple brown sugar variety the best)
• Lowfat (1%) or non fat white milk: the milk that comes in boxes and is shelf stable (no refrigeration required)
• Soups: cans – usually 15 ounces – that just need to be mixed with water. Strive for varieties that have less than 480 milligrams of sodium
• Raisin boxes
• Please do not donate , candy, sugary drinks including juice drinks, snack cakes like twinkies, potato chips, or other “junk food.”
If you have questions about food items, feel free to snap a photo of the Nutrition Label and message us on Facebook. Thank you for helping us provide healthy foods to kids in need, one child at a time! Please, contact us with questions. N.O.W program
[email protected]
P.S.- The children who receive backpacks are chosen by the counselor at the school. We do not have any involvement in which child receives one and which child does not.
