Canyon Lake Community PROFILE
s ta r t z v i l l e
summer
food
program
~ feeding our children, feeding our future
by Leticia de Leon
Startzville Summer Food Program (SSFP) is a summer program in Canyon Lake that’s focused on the well-being of the children within our community. The program was founded in 2011 in response to the growing concern within the community over lack of meals the students from the elementary school would receive through the summer break. During the school year, many of these children receive their only two meals through the school lunch program and take home a large zip lock bag of food for the weekend. In conjunction with the challenging economy and the lack of personal and mass transportation in this rural community, it’s difficult for families in need to obtain assistance that is provided by local food pantries and churches. SSFP volunteers deliver a supply of food to each child’s home on a weekly basis. To ensure a successful program, SSFP partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank and the local Community Resource and Recreation Center (CRRC), an established non-profit 501(C)3 organization. The program operates solely with volunteers and includes several teachers from the elementary school that truly care about their students beyond the classroom environment. The initial goal was to assist 40 children through the summer break. By the end of 2011, the program was providing
assistance to 73 participants. With the donations from private donors, SSFP has also provided support beyond the food deliveries. Every student that was scheduled to begin the school year received a new pair of shoes. A coat drive was also held to ensure every child had a warm jacket or coat for the cold weather. Over the holiday break in December, SSFP partnered with a group of private donors to deliver approximately 50 lbs of food and a home-cooked holiday dinner that included a smoked turkey, dressing, dessert and several other trimmings per family. Generous donations from friends, family and local businesses have made it possible to begin and to continue the program; however, as the need to assist additional children grows so does the need for additional funding. SSFP receives no direct funding from CRRC. All donations are tax deductible; a receipt will be provided upon request. After all, everything goes to the kids to provide for really basic needs.
If you are interested in supporting SSFP, please email ssmprogram11@gmail.com. For your donation to reach the Summer Food Program, checks should be made payable specifically to CRRCStartzville Summer Food Program. The Community Resource & Recreation Center (CRRC) is located in Sattler at 1917 FM 2673, Canyon Lake 78133. For more information, call 830-964-3003.
~ JUNE 2013~
Canyon Lake Views
5
June 2013