One out of every five children in Central Florida are at risk of going to bed hungry at night. Provision Packs, a community-based, non-profit organization, is taking a stand against this situation and fighting childhood hunger by providing supplemental food for local school children.
Provision Packs supplies packs of food to needy children for the weekends and extended school breaks throughout the school year. Each pack consists of shelf-stable, nutritious foods that can be shared with the family.
“If we work together, we can make a difference in our own backyard,” said Provision Packs founder Carrie Torres. “We are hoping to help to fill the gaps while these families live on financial cliffs.”
There are many local families stretching their food budget to make ends meet. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many families are experiencing situational poverty, according to Torres.
Through fundraising efforts, Provision Packs raises money to purchase food. Each week, a group of volunteers fills the packs with food and delivers them to the schools.
“We have an amazing board and amazing volunteers,” said Torres. “Our volunteers and board of directors — everyone who works with us — gives so much, and they give from the bottom of their hearts.”
Based in Ormond Beach, Provision Packs expanded into Flagler County in 2020. Torres founded the program in 2015 when she identified a gap in consistent nutrition for some school children.
During a holiday party at her daughter’s elementary school, Torres noticed that most of the children were playing and laughing leaving plates of food carelessly disregarded on tables.
However, two boys were not participating in the festivities. Instead, they were each sitting in separate corners ravenously consuming their food.
“They were not really eating. They were devouring their food,” said Torres. “I’ll never forget that. It changed my life forever.”
Provision Packs currently supplies packs to more than 800 children each week and serves approximately 17 schools throughout Volusia and Flagler Counties
The only requirement for the program is a signed permission slip. No financial data is required from any child or any school. The goal is simply to make sure that hungry kids are fed.
“If kids aren’t coming to school ready to learn on Monday. It’s a community problem,”said Torres. “Maybe we can help break the cycle of poverty.”
Because they do not require financial data, Provision Packs is ineligible for many grants. Therefore, the program relies heavily on fundraising efforts. Donations can be made through their website: www.provisionpacks.org.
Provision Packs is hosting their 7th Annual Backpack Bash on Sept. 23, 2023, at Forever Ranch in Ormond Beach to help raise funds for the program. The event features food from local restaurants, outdoor games, live music and a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased on their website. — Rachel Dolezal
