Celebrating Two Years of Kids’ Snack Bags

The program was started by long-time volunteer Marilyn Crone, with the help of volunteers Bashie Young and Ann Ritchie. Initially, just 12 volunteers during the early COVID days made 250–300 bags per month. Now, over 60 active volunteers of all ages, on a rotating basis, meet one Saturday morning per month to make more than 500 bags. Because of this, each child in every client family receives a Kids’ Snack Bag on Wednesdays.

Last year alone, the Kids’ Snack Bag volunteers put together roughly 500 bags per month for a grand total of approximately 5,200 snack bags. With the addition of about 1,400 bags donated by the Newton community, over 6,600 bags were provided to the children of our clients in 2022! 

Since the program began, Newton Food Pantry volunteers have prepared more than 8,800 bags and donors have decorated, filled and donated over 2,400 bags.

As Marilyn says, “Every person — adults, teens and children — must have access to healthy food, and enough food, in order to live an active, healthy life. We all have an obligation to the children in our city to help provide what we can to combat and fight hunger and food insecurity.”
We are so thankful for the amazing support, energy, commitment and dedication of our community and Kids’ Snack Bag volunteers. Click here to learn more about the Kids’ Snack Bag program.