Food For Kids Honored with Friend of Education Award

Related Media

Food For Kids

ALBANY, NY (04/22/2020) (readMedia)-- Food For Kids in Washingtonville, represented by Barbara Quinn, president of the Food For Kids board of directors, has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 Friend of Education Award by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given to an individual, group, or organization that has consistently contributed to the support and advancement of outstanding public education and the students of New York State.

Food For Kids, a non-profit, all volunteer organization, was founded in May of 2015 by LouAnne Blanchard and Lois Dunikowsi, mission ministry leaders at the First Presbyterian Church of Washingtonville, after learning about another school district's Backpacks for Food program providing food-insecure students non-perishable and easy-to-prepare foods for the weekend. They recognized the need in their own community and arranged to meet with the Superintendent and other concerned individuals and organizations. In the fall of 2015 Taft Elementary School was chosen to be the first school in the program. In subsequent school years, the program expanded its operation to include all three of the elementary schools as well as the middle school. From its inception, Food For Kids has operated as a multi-organization collaboration, working with Catholic Daughters of the Americas (Court St. Ann, Mother of Mary #2419), St. Mary's Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church of Washingtonville, Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Taft School community and PTA, Little Britain School community, Round Hill School community, Washingtonville Middle School, Country Kids Food Pantry, Grace Community Church, Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Lourdes Council #5890, The Country Store Thrift Shop, as well as countless individual community volunteers.

Every Friday during the school year, students who qualify and opt into the program are able to take home a backpack filled with non-perishable and easy-to-prepare foods. Special pack offs are done for long weekends and school holiday breaks. During the summer months, Food For Kids distributes daily lunches from several locations in the school district. The summer food program served more than 8,000 lunches in the summer of 2019 and is additionally supported by many Washingtonville restaurants and businesses, as well as the United Way of Dutchess and Orange Counties, the WEL Foundation, and donations from caring individuals in the community. Food donations may be dropped off in collection bins at all schools being served by the program, at St. Mary's Church outside of St. Joseph's Room, at Stop & Shop in Washingtonville, and at Grace Community Church's lobby area (except Fridays).

Food For Kids will be honored for their contributions at an awards ceremony at a later date.