WICKENBURG, AZ – June 11, 2019, The Wickenburg Elk’s Lodge #2160 Melissa’s Cupboard Program, continued its plans to support local food insecure students by holding the first of three summer “food box” giveaways.
The program, which began by providing weekend supplemental food bags to qualifying students at Hassayampa Elementary and Vulture Peak Middle School, is continuing to support these students by holding three “food box” giveaways over the summer break.
There were about 25 individual children that received a box of food on Tuesday. Each box of food is designed to provide lunch to one child for two weeks. There will be two more “food box” giveaways before the school year resumes in July.
The ongoing goals of the program are to provide more nutritious food, as well as, to provide both weekend breakfast and lunch. “Currently we are looking to enlist the help of additional community businesses, churches and individuals; so we can continue providing weekend meals for food insecure students during the school year’s upcoming three-day weekend.”- Debra Loder, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Wickenburg Community Hospital and Deacon at St. Albans Episcopal Church.
Funding for the program began with a grant from the Elk’s National Foundation and has continued through community food drive efforts and donation. Among current local area donors are Wickenburg Elk’s Lodge, St. Albans Episcopal Church and Wickenburg Community Hospital.
Those wishing to get involved are encouraged to contact Debra Loder at 928-684-5421 ex. 3632