Children in America shouldn’t have to worry if they will have food to eat when school is closed on the weekends or for holidays, but the reality is that many do.
Data shows that nearly 12 percent of the population in Greene County lives at or below the poverty line.
The franchisees of Dunkin’ Donuts in Stanardsville recognize that many children don’t have access to meals, much less donuts, when school cafeterias are closed.
The local Dunkin’, together with the Joy in Childhood Foundation, presented $10,000 to Feeding Greene, the Food Pantry in Greene County to provide assistance to families in need.
The grant will go toward a backpack program that provides children with kid-friendly, nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to take home every weekend and during school breaks.
The program has become a lifeline for many local families, and the growing demand reflects the increasing pressures they are facing due to cuts in federal assistance and rising costs across the board.
“Through the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, we’re helping ensure that children in Greene County have access to nutritious meals throughout the weekend and school breaks, hopefully allowing them to focus on the simple joys of being a kid,” said Emilly Bartels, Dunkin’ field marketing manager.
The $10,000 donation is part of a larger gift campaign that distributed $6.5 million of funding nationwide. Funds are raised through local and national efforts, such as Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day and the foundation’s annual “Give Joy” fundraiser, which raised $3.04 million this year.
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Crystal Graham
