By Mary Owen
Stayton High School’s WE (Weekend Eats) Project needs help to continue its outreach to hungry students.
“The North Santiam School District was kind enough to fund the start of the WE Project, but to continue
next year, we will need community support,” said Wendi Nyquist, CTE program and dropout prevention specialist. “Current cost to feed a student for an average month is $30, and $270 to feed them all year.
“The WE Project is a resource offered to students who are either in an unstable living situation or a student whose family may not have the means to provide consistent meals,” Nyquist said. “We know our students receive breakfast and lunch through the district’s free and reduced program from the cafeteria during the week. The concern is the weekend when the school is closed. The WE Program provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the weekends when our school resources are not available.”
Because of the project, one student said, “I know on the weekends when I am hungry, I have something to eat.”
Once a staff referral is received, Nyquist meets with the student to see if the resource will be a good fit.
“A small group of us sets aside time Friday morning to put together the bags of food,” she said. “Notes go out
to the students to come to our area in the afternoon. When the students arrive, we discreetly slip the bag of food into their backpacks and off they go. We try to keep it quiet. Our goal is not to bring attention to the program, but to make sure kids have the food they need without the unwanted attention.”
Although the program is in its early stages, Nyquist said she can see a difference in attitude from the students who are helped.
“Our goal is for the students who receive this resource to feel that the district cares about them, that each student is important to us,” she said. “At this time, we are serving around 25 students. We are in a position where our group can handle the work the program entails. If the program continues to grow, that could change.”
Currently, the need is financial so that any student at the high school level can be offered this resource, Nyquist said.
“If the program has the funds and continues to have success, there is a possibility we could grow the program to the middle school level,” she said.
Tax deductible donations can be made to the WE Project, Stayton High School and delivered or mailed to the school or the North Santiam School District Office. All donors will receive a receipt letter for tax purposes. Any amount donated is appreciated, Nyquist said.
Mailing information is: North Santiam School District, Attn: Sara Silbernagel, 1155 N. 3rd Ave., Stayton, OR 97383 or Stayton High School, Attn: Jody Cranston, 757 W. Locust St., Stayton, OR 97393.
For more information, call Nyquist at 503-769-2171. ext. 6130 or message her at wendi.nyquist@nsantiam.k12.or.us.
