Food for Kids

Because the children don't have a choice.

- 54% of students enrolled in Martinsville City Schools and 46% enrolled in Henry County Schools depend on the school free/reduced meal program, and a percentage of those - for their only reliable source of food.

- Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that even children considered marginally food insecure - meaning they had food, but not enough, or simply not nutritious - lagged behind their peers in test scores.

- The percentage of children (ages 0-17) who are classified by the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services as 'living in poverty' in Henry County is 26% and in the city of Martinsville, over 34%.

- Elementary school-aged children who are food insecure not only have an increased prevalence of negative behavioral and health outcomes, but are more than twice as likely to have seen a psychologist. By the time they are teens, they are two times more likely to have been suspended.

The truth is sad. We have hungry children, going without all around us. For whatever reason their parents found themselves in this situation, it isn't the children's fault and even more sad - there's nothing they can do about it.

The good news is - there's something you can do about it! Become a Backpack Buddy with the Community Storehouse for as little as $20 per month, or $200 for the entire school year and you'll provide a needy child in our community with a new backpack filled with child-friendly, nutritious food, every weekend!

For more information, visit www.communitystorehouseofmhc.org, or call 276-632-9002.