The Carbon Caring for Kids organization is preparing for another school year of food kits for students in need. Coordinator, Marcie Loveless stopped by Castle Country Radio to share all the details about the group.

“Carbon Caring for Kids is a food program where we provide weekend food kits for kids who are not able to either get food or don’t have enough food for the weekend, so it just helps families. All of the food that we provide is all kid-friendly, it’s something they can open up and go, its not anything they have to cook. Its 100 percent provided by the community.,” stated Loveless. This is the seventh year that this program has been running. The organization has been able to sustain itself through donations only, they have not sought help through any grant monies. It’s the community taking care of their own.

Donations can include volunteerism, monetary or food items. “So we buy a lot of stuff with the money that we get, we buy a lot of stuff in bulk. But the stuff that we buy every week are like fruit cups, the apple sauce go-go squeezes. Any kind of the individual snacks we use all of the time. Each week we ask each of the volunteers to provide the fruit because we want to try to make fruit in each of the kits every week,” said Loveless. Other items that are included in the kits are Chef Boyardee microwavable cups, tuna fish and cracker boxes, granola bars, Gossner Milk and cereal.

They have different drop-off locations throughout town where food donations can be dropped off.  “We also have different drop-off points around town that you can use. Right now, Loveless Ash Company has a box in the front, and Carbon Print & Design you’re able to drop off stuff there and they’ll get that stuff to us,” said Loveless. Both sites are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

In order to make the kits each week the organization relies on volunteers to come assist in putting the kits together. “If you are wanting to volunteer within a couple of weeks, sometimes days, I have months planned out all the way till December, and then I’ll start again in January just to kind of try and get everyone an opportunity to serve,” said Loveless. This aspect of the organization would be great for a church group, sports team, business, and/or families.

Anyone interested in the Carbon Caring for Kids program can learn more by visiting their Facebook page.