The group was started in 2009 by a group of concerned parents who became aware of cuts in the Harvesters BackSnack program in our elementary school as well as the increasing food need for families in our town. We decided to supplement the BackSnacks with fresh fruit, bread and peanut butter weekly. At first the donations came from parents involved in SSS but since then SSS has expanded into doing
fundraisers and relying heavily on community and individual donations. We now include even more food in our weekly supplements, as well as provide backsnacks to families who need them who are not covered by the limited number of backsnacks that Harvesters provides. We have a board and an advisory board of active and supportive community members. We have current by-laws and policy and procedures to frame how SSS is run. We meet hunger needs of children during times they do not have access to school breakfast or lunch. Currently we are providing weekly food supplements and boxes of food for each week of Christmas and spring break to children in the elementary school, costing us $250-$300/week. We also provide breakfast items to the elementary and middle schools as needed. We provide hygiene products (shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste) to the schools for children as needed. We also assist students and families with other individual needs as long as those needs follow under our mission statement of supporting children within the school environment. We have built several community collaborations in our community. We work with Helping Hands Food Pantry, the Wellsville middle school counselors and the student community services classes, the Wellsville elementary school counselors and the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce. We strongly believe in supporting this community where we all live and work, which means that each $ donated goes right back into Wellsville supporting children. Mission statement: "Student Support Services is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and families in our community by supporting children in local schools." Goals:
*To provide weekly food supplements to children in USD289 who are part of Harvesters BackSnack program or who need supplemental food.
*To provide weekly breakfast items to USD 289 students who did not receive breakfast at home or at school.
*To supply hygiene products and school supplies to USD 289 students as needed.
*To address any other situations that arise where children/families need support for children to be successful in school.
