Parkland Health Center Donates $1,000 to Central R-3 School District’s Snack Initiative

Park Hills, Mo. (KFMO) - Parkland Health Center has made a large donation to the Central R-3 School District to support the CSI-Central Snack Initiative Backpack program.

A check was presented to the district at Friday's Central vs. Jefferson football game. This initiative provides students with nutritious meals and snacks on weekends, helping to meet their nutritional needs when they are away from school. Each week, school counselors and social workers identify students who would benefit most from the program. They work with families to ensure students receive a bag of food every Friday, containing items for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the weekend.

The program emphasizes healthy, easy-to-prepare options that can withstand transport, with each bag costing an estimated $6.50. In addition to meeting nutritional needs, the program offers valuable learning opportunities for middle and high school students, who manage inventory, bag food, and handle distribution, gaining real-world job skills.

This initiative not only supports student health but also fosters important life skills within the community.