Story continues below
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Hundreds of students at Irving Dual Language Elementary School lined up on Wednesday to get a free bag of food and school supplies to take home.
More than 500 students received bags that were filled with donations from staff and community members. Kids were given canned fruits and vegetables by members of the Food Bank of Siouxland, and were also able to get any school supplies they needed.
The principal said roughly 93% of their students qualify for the free and reduced lunch program, and donations like this help the kids tremendously.
See also DOJ to pay ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn $1M to settle malicious prosecution suit: Sources
“Whenever we can offer some shelf stable food that they can take home, that’s phenomenal, because we know they at least have something they can count on to have at home,” said Maria Ruelas, the Principal with Irving Dual Language Elementary School.
“One in every five children in our community is considered food insecure, and right now, I think especially, we’re seeing high levels of need. There’s no reason that any child in our community should go hungry ever,” said Valerie Petersen, the Associate Executive Director of the Food Bank of Siouxland.
Members of the Food Bank of Siouxland said they left Wednesday’s donation with big smiles after hearing hundreds of students saying thank you.