Submitted by Gene Medina,

It’s that time again for us to begin planning for Food for Kids, summer, 2014.
 
Food for Kids focuses on providing children at Wolfle Elementary School food support for children during and after summer school.  Some important things to know:
The school district’s free/reduced meals program (breakfast and lunch) does not operate through the summer months
Did you know that 59% or 226 of 383 students at Wolfle Elementary qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch?
 
Food for Kids, now entering its fourth year, was established in summer, 2011 through an energetic community partnership between Wolfle Elementary School and the Kingston Rotary, Kingston Kiwanis, Port Gamble S’Klallam’s Early Childhood and Family and Children’s Services programs, ShareNet, and Kingston Food Bank. These groups focused on working together to respond to this gap in services for children.  This past summer, both the Kingston High School Interact and Key Clubs joined the partnership.
 
 
The program is organized in two phases: Summer school (June 23-July 11) and from the end of summer school to the beginning of school year (July 16-September 3). During summer school children will receive daily breakfasts provided by the Port Gamble Family and Children’s Services Program and one weekly food packets from ShareNet. After summer school ends, the Kingston Food Bank organizes and provide the packets (see photo) and works with the Port Gamble S’Klallams services to distribute these packets (every Wednesday) until the opening of school.   
 
How do we fundraise?  Through the support of Kingston Rotary, Kingston Kiwanis, Kingston Chamber of Commerce and Kingston Community Advisory Council, the Kingston Stakeholders, other community groups we get the word out and solicit donations. The Kingston Community News and North Kitsap Herald also share information and spread the word. We also request donations at community activities and events such as 4th of July Celebration, Kingston Saturday Market and the Concerts at the Cove.

Beyond these efforts, The Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe has provided a substantiation community grant of $2500 to support the program and its work. 
s children have nutritious food during these summer months is the core of our mission, the purpose of our work. 
 
How can you contribute to the program?  Mail a tax-deductible donation to:
Food for Kids
Kingston Rotary Foundation
P.O. Box 832
Kingston, WA    98346