Food for Children
Healthy Snacks and Gunni-Packs
GCFP Healthy Snacks Program
More than one-third of children in Gunnison County qualify for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals. During the school year, meals are available to students at school. But many children come to school without snacks to get them through the day. Even more students still are unsure where their meals will come from during the 64 hours between leaving school on Friday and returning to school on Monday morning. That’s where Healthy Snacks and Gunni-Packs comes in.
Numerous studies confirm what every parent and teacher knows: children learn better and act better when they feel better. Health depends on adequate sleep, exercise, and nutritious food. One of the leading causes of childhood obesity is unhealthy eating habits. By putting healthy snacks within reach of children facing hunger, the Gunnison County community is improving the health of its children. The snacks purchased for the Healthy Snacks program are rated by FOODUCATE as Good, Above Average, or Average. Nothing rated Below Average is purchased for children.
Gunni-Packs contain a wide selection of easy to prepare, kid-friendly food.
Healthy Snacks: Feeding Bodies, Fueling Minds provides 1,000 snacks per month to children facing hunger through a partnership with Gunnison Watershed School District and Gunnison Public Library
During the summer, healthy snacks are provided to children experiencing food insecurity through multiple delivery strategies: Señorita’s Rita’ Rockin’ Reading Buses, Gunnison Library’s children’s programs, Gunnison Watershed School District’s Summer Experience, and the Pantry’s Snack Bags.
During the summer, healthy snacks are provided to children experiencing food insecurity through six delivery systems: Señorita’s Rita’ Rockin’ Reading Buses, Gunnison Valley Mentors’ MyDay Friday program, Gunnison Library’s children’s programs, Gunnison Watershed School District’s Summer Experience, and the Pantry’s Snack Bags.
Gunni-Packs contain seven kid-friendly meals and six snacks. Items are chosen which are easy for children to prepare for themselves and their siblings.
