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What's New!
What goes into a weekend foodpack?
• Fresh fruit
• Granola bar
• A box of mac & cheese
• Canned pasta such as Chef Boyardee
• Canned soup
• Pudding cups
• Fruit cups
• Cookies
• Snack item such as pretzels or gold fish crackers
• Individual box of cereal
• Microwave popcorn
• Bagel
• Once a quarter, peanut butter and jelly
• Fresh fruit
• Granola bar
• A box of mac & cheese
• Canned pasta such as Chef Boyardee
• Canned soup
• Pudding cups
• Fruit cups
• Cookies
• Snack item such as pretzels or gold fish crackers
• Individual box of cereal
• Microwave popcorn
• Bagel
• Once a quarter, peanut butter and jelly
Our Story
You often hear non-profits talk about their story. We would like to tell Community for Kid’s story as we start our 6th year of providing weekend food packs to students in the Blue Valley School District.
We hear there is no need in Johnson County but we are here to tell you it is just not true.
Poverty in Johnson County remained statistically unchanged between 2016 and 2017, according to data released yesterday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
• The county's 2017 poverty rate is 5.3%, an estimated 30,830 people.
• Of that number, 62 were children.
• The Department of Education uses a broader basis for homelessness.
• Their count of school age children in Johnson County is 107 students in the most recent survey of 2015-2016.
• That is up from 53 in 2010-11 and 96 in 2014-15.
• Overland Park has 10,620 residents living below the federal poverty level.
• Children make up the majority of that number.
• More than 2,000 Blue Valley Students qualify for the free and reduced lunch program.
• Nearly 10,000 more Johnson Countians were uninsured in 2017 than 2016.
• According to the recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 6.9%, an estimated 40,500 people, had no health insurance at any time during 2017.
• In 2016, the percentage was 5.4%. This upward trend since 2015 mirrors others states where Medicaid has not been expanded; Medicaid expansion states have seen no statistically significant increase in uninsured.
• UCS has just begun analyzing this new data from U.S. Census Bureau's 2017 American Community Survey and Current Population Survey on population, poverty, income, and other demographic indicators.
All data was based on annual Point in Time Counts, 2011-2017; Kansas Department of Education; and reports from the six Johnson County School Districts’ homeless liaisons.
Community for Kids has added students and schools every year. Last year we participated with 24 schools and delivered 8,654 food packs. Our annual budget for food is $35,000 which comes from local churches, schools, corporate partners and food drives.
As the Principal from Stilwell Elementary so eloquently noted,
“Without this wonderful donation from the Community for Kids Program, many of our families would not have ample food each weekend. Through Community for Kids, families have an extra system of support. Students are always excited to come and get their food each Friday afternoon; their smiles tell me they are grateful for this “bag of goodies”. I am so thankful that our families have the love and assistance from Community for Kids’ Program.”
Help us fight against food insecurity because no child should have to go hungry. Every little bit helps. Thank you!
