Feed the Future

Feed the Future's Report Card: A+

Feed the Future, a CFS Direct Distribution Initiative that delivers nutritionally balanced groceries to 400 elementary school children per week, was honored by the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County at the end of a wonderfully successful first year with a Millennium Trust Grant.The program was begun in October 2002 at the school that has the highest percentage of students (80- 90%) in the St. Vrain Valley School District enrolled in its free- and reduced-cost lunch program for low-income students.

Each Friday, students who have had perfect attendance or an excused absence for that week receive a bag of groceries to take home. Feedback from both the students and the parents has been very enthusiastic and supportive. Since the implementation of the program, attendance has been a near-perfect 99%, which means the children are in the classroom more, better able to learn and are eating regularly in school, as well as on the weekends. The kids are proud to be "bread-winners" when they can bring the groceries back to their families.Well-fed children have improved energy and focus as well as better overall health, so this positive pattern is self-perpetuating. Now that's what we call a victorious cycle!