A Community Effort

There are over 13,000 students in the Federal Way School District who receive free or reduced price meals and are likely food insecure, meaning they may not have adequate access to nutritious food at home.  A community wide effort to support these families is necessary, as no one organization or group of volunteers could tackle this issue alone.  We are able to make the greatest impact when we work collaboratively to meet the needs of our students and their families.  Communities In Schools is dedicated to connecting the Federal Way Community and its resources to the students who need it most.  We could not do this work without the unrelenting generosity of our community. Below are a few examples of community partnerships helping to reduce hunger and food insecurity for our most vulnerable families.

Thanksgiving

This year, Communities In Schools helped coordinate Thanksgiving meals, comple te with turkeys, for 137  families at 8 schools.  This coordinated effort took the support of many community partners, volunteers, and students and staff at these schools.  

At Federal Way High School, our School Outreach Coordinator, Kaitlin Thomas, helped provide Thanksgiving meals for 42 Eagle families in need.  All families that asked for help received a meal! Students and staff all pitched in to take care of their Eagle families and made this the most successful year yet at FWHS. 

Other schools were supported by local churches and groups including Northwest Church, Grace Church, Christ the King Bible Fellowship, We Love Our  City Group, and many more!

Communities In Schools also partnered with P's Lunchbox, who provided 25 complete meals for families, and is preparing to help us serve families over the winter holiday break.  

 

Bridging a Gap

Communities In Schools partners with Bridging A Gap (BAG) Weekend Feeding Program to provide our students with meals for the weekends. Through our partnership with BAG, we are currently serving 75 students at Lakota, Sacajawea, Sequoyah, and Saghalie Middle Schools, and Federal Way and Thomas Jefferson High Schools.  Community partners adopt a school through the BAG program and Communities In Schools delivers the food to students who need it most.  Community partners at these schools include St. Luke's Church, Christ Church, Kiwanis, Light of Christ Church, Cross Life Community Church, and We Love our City Group. 

At Lakota Middle School, one of the

 families receiving food from the BAG program is currently living in their car.  When St. Luke's found out about their situation,

 members of the congregation hand quilted warm blankets and knitted warm hats for each member of the family. They also purchased a gas card, hand warmers and extra food for the family.

Students Helping Students

At Sequoyah Middle School and Federal Way High School, the WE Act Cubs recently held food drives to  benefit their peers in need. At Sequoyah, the drive was held during student-led conferences.  

At Federal Way High School, the WE Act Club participated in "We Scare Hunger" on Halloween, trick-or-treating for food donations, and then donated the collected food to Communities In Schools to benefit Eagle families in need.

 

Communities In Schools is also currently partnering with Advancing Leadership Youth to create a more coordinated process among student groups at the high schools who want to help support families in need through efforts such as food drives.

One of the presenters that resonated with the students talked about the importance of taking pride in who you are, and not focusing on negativity of others. On the way home, the students came up with a song

 highlighting their confidence in being themselves and being good at math.