Forder Elementary Takes Care of Its Students

School is over for the summer but that doesn't mean area educators have stopped thinking about their students. 

On the Oakville Elementary Facebook page  is was revealed Scott Clark, the principal of Forder Elementary, is working with the community to ensure students in need are getting lunches throughout the summer. 

"Once again, I would like to thank you, Oakville's PTO (parent teacher organization) and your school counselor for the generous donation to Forder's Summer Cafe," Clark said. "Your collective donation will feed more than five children a lunch everyday from June 3 through August 9.

"I appreciate Oakville's support for our cause and my hopes are to extend the program to your community next summer."

The need to feed students even when school is not in session is not uncommon. The Feeding America BackPack Program website states more than 18 million children qualify for free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program, getting them through the week.  But once they go home they may be hungry until Monday arrives again. 

Feeding America BackPack Program provides book bags of food assembled at more than 150 local food banks, which are distributed at the end of the week to nearly 230,000 children every year.  In 2011, just over 2 million children received meals during the summer months, as well. 

Looking to find a local program? Use the Food Bank Locator here to find out what's going on in Mehlville and Oakville.