Power Pack Program
What is the Power Pack program?
A Power Pack contains nutritious food for children to take home each weekend. Students who take part in the program receive Power Packs each Friday so they have something to eat when they’re away from school.
Power Packs contain anywhere from nine to 12 shelf-stable, food items. Food is chosen based on nutritional value and how easy it is for children to prepare. Some of the food provided in Power Packs includes:
- 2% milk
- Red beans and rice
- Cereal
- Pudding
- Applesauce
- Microwavable macaroni and cheese
- Canned fruit
How are students selected to take part in the Power Pack program?
The Freestore Foodbank relies on school staff members who are familiar with students and their situations. Children who are most in need of food are at the top of our priority list.
How many students are served each year?
The Freestore Foodbank ended the 2010 fiscal year distributing 84,081 Power Packs to 55 sites. 2,320 children received Power Packs each week. The Freestore Foodbank is working to add new sites, with the goal of providing 130,000 Power packs to 3,500 children in 2011.
How can you help?
Power Pack volunteers help make the program happen. All Power Packs are assembled by volunteers at the Freestore Foodbank’s Mayerson Distribution Center in Bond Hill. The Freestore Foodbank also currently has seven, volunteer drivers who deliver Power Packs to 13 distribution sites. However, new, volunteer drivers are needed as the program expands. Click here to learn more about volunteering with the Power Pack program.
Our thanks to those who help fund the Power Pack program:
- Helen Steiner Rice Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundations
- Food Lion
- Impact 100
- Ohio Bank of America
- The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation
- The Procter & Gamble Company
- PNC Bank Foundation
- Thomas J. Emery Memorial
- The Andrew Jergens Foundation
- The Charles H. Dater Foundation
- The P&G Fund
- United Way
- Wm. P. Anderson Foundation
- Feeding America
- Louis and Melba Schott Foundation
- Macy’s Corporate Services
- Remke/Bigg’s
- Cincinnati Friends of Charity
- General Mills
- Jay D. and Beulah W. Raymond Endowment Fund
- Target
- Brian Tippett
- Northern Kentucky University
- Steven A. Hunter Hope Fund
Click here to support the Power Pack program.
Testimonials
“The students and parents continue to be grateful for this assistance of weekend food.” – Power Pack Site Coordinators
“Everyone, including staff and parents, were thrilled to have Power Packs go home three days in one week to use over the winter recess break from school. Sending one Power Pack home per day was easier for the students to handle on the bus, opposed to carrying three at one time. I know it was a better holiday break for many of our Power Pack students! Thanks so much.” – Power Pack Coordinators
For more information about the Power Pack program, please contact Kathy Greenberg at (513) 482-7544, or via email at kgreenberg@freestorefoodbank.org.
