For many years, YES has supported youth and young adults experiencing food insecurity by providing food bags filled with meals and snacks to help them get through the weekend.
While it is true that our funding for this program will end by the close of this month, YES will continue providing weekend food, as we have for years. We will use dollars from our General Fund to support this essential program.
YES prefers not to draw from our General Fund, as it is designated for participant services such as clothing, education, employment, housing, and so on. In contrast, the food program funds are specifically set aside for weekend food bags. To uphold our mission, our General Funds are also allocated to help YES cover some operational costs, including salaries.
We will definitely be grateful for any donations to help YES cover these costs, and more. Your gifts always go to support kids in our community!
Each month, YES staff prepare and distribute on average 286 weekend food bags to young people throughout Pend Oreille County. Of those, 252 bags go to youth in the Newport School District.
The cost to provide one bag is $7.42, which brings the total cost to $2,122.12 each month to continue providing this program. This last quarter, the food program was a total of $6,219.91.
This program is about more than food.
It helps relieve the stress young people feel when they are unsure where their next meal will come from.
It supports families who are doing their best during difficult times.
And it reminds youth that people in their county care about their wellbeing.
To put it into perspective:
• $7.42 provides one weekend food bag
• $37 provides five bags
• $74 provides ten bags
Even small contributions can make a meaningful difference.
If you are able, please consider making a monetary donation to help YES continue providing weekend food bags for young people in Pend Oreille County. Your support will help ensure that young people in our area do not have to face the weekend hungry.
Thank you for helping support the young people who depend on this program.