When parents at Silver Lake Elementary run into money problems, they can turn to the school to help get dinner on the table.
The school runs a food bank for its own students, supplied with cans and dried food donated by other parents. Lynndale Elementary in Lynnwood has a similar program, where students take food home in rolling backpacks.
“Money is short and I don’t think (families) have any reserves,” said Rhonda Atregenio, the Silver Lake school counselor who manages the food bank.
She doesn’t ask people why they need help. Parents make an appointment and take away a bag or two of food, but most only visit once or twice.
“I think what often happens is an unexpected bill comes in, the car breaks down, the kid needs something unexpected and money is tight,” Atregenio said.
For example, she knows a family who moved to the area and the new apartment took all their money – they had to make ends meet until the next pay check.
In 2006-07, 32 families were served at the food bank. In 2007-08 it was 35 families.
The food bank has been open since Oct. 15 this year and has already served about 15 families.
About 40 percent of children qualify for free and reduced lunch at the school.
It’s kept stocked by a fall food drive, and people will often ask Atregenio if anything is running low throughout the year.
Donations are mostly from other parents, but the school had a remodel done this year and some of the builders donated too when they found out about it.
Lynndale Elementary also has a food program for its own students.
About 40 percent of students at the school qualify for free and reduced lunch.
On Fridays, students load up rolling backpacks with as much food as they can, then wheel them away discretely.
“When students are leaving school the backpacks mix in with the others,” said principal David Zwaschka.
The system aims to ensure privacy. Families in need of food speak with school counselors one-on-one.
The program is a partnership with the Family Center of South Snohomish County in Lynnwood. The center got a grant to help fund the program, providing about 10 rolling backpacks.
The program has run for about a year, and in that time, the number of families it serves has grown, Zwaschka said.
“From the economic downturn, families might be experiencing more economic distress,” he said. “I’ve heard that food banks are maybe not as well stocked as in the past – what can we do to help in some small way fill in those gaps?”
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