Group to provide meals for students

There are children in our community going hungry, according to Lisa Sauer Ridout, Wa-Ki-Hi Class of ’86 and first grade teacher at Julius A. Wendt Elementary.

Fifty-five percent of the students in the elementary school district qualify for assistance in the breakfast and lunch program. Ridout witnessed children of all ages showing up on Monday morning, hungrier than any other day of the school week.

Motivated by compassion and her studies in poverty at Portland State University, she started a new service group to combat food insecurity in our community with our most defenseless population in mind, children.

The project, GAP (Giving Action Plan), is aptly named for any period of time when children are not receiving meals at school. Ridout sent a survey home with the students and found that one-third of the parents responding were struggling to get food on the table seven days a week.

Ridout said she would like to see GAP “provide food for any family, no matter what the income or situation.”

GAP has attracted similarly minded individuals and representatives from clubs, churches and food banks, and the group has met twice to organize their efforts.

Volunteers met this Tuesday at the Pioneer Church to pack bags of food for the four day holiday weekend. Twenty-one children will find food in their cubby to take home with them today.

To learn more or get involved, one may attend the next meeting of GAP on December 4, 4 p.m., in Room 1 at Julius A. Wendt Elementary School. All are welcome.

Another opportunity to hear Ridout, a certified poverty coach, speak about GAP and the nature of poverty will be December 11 at 6 p.m. at the Hotel Cathlamet.

To make a donation, one can make checks out to Helping Hands Food Bank and send them to Helping Hands/GAP, PO Box 12, Cathlamet, WA 98612. Please note on the check that the donation is for GAP, otherwise it will go directly into the Helping Hand’s fund. To donate food, one can take it to Julius A. Wendt Elementary Room 1.

Here is a list of kid-friendly food items that GAP is looking for:

--Single packaged instant oatmeal (any flavor, any brand).

--Low or no-sugar applesauce or fruit cups (4 pack single serves with foil lids, any kind).

--Shelf milk (comes in a quart box for $1).

--Single serve Mac and Cheese.

--Granola/cereal/nutritional bars.

--Chili with meat and beans, raviolis, spaghetti with meat, stew, etc. (pull tab opening).

--Cheese/cracker snacks (individual serve).

--Dried fruits or nuts (individual packs).

--Canned chicken, tuna, Spam, etc.