‘We’re Seeing More Kids Come in Hungry’: Booster Pak Group Sees More Need

Nearly one in three students in the West Des Moines school district qualifies for free and reduced-price lunches, a startling fact that has caused the Booster Pak nonprofit group to expand to meet increased needs.

The organization provides weekend meals for students in food-insecure families, according to a Des Moines Register report.

“Our neighborhoods are changing,” Melanie Menken, the group’s president and founder, said. “We’re seeing more kids come in hungry on Monday morning and not prepared to learn.”

Booster Pak was established in 2010.

The West Des Moines Community Celebration Committee recently gave the Booster Pak organization a $16,450 gift, proceeds from the A-May-Zing Days events held last May, that will allow it to serve more students. Booster Pak partners with the Food Bank of Iowa’s BackPack program to provide students with microwavable entrees, fruit cups and cereal.

The program currently serves about 550 students, including Valley High School sophomores who were added to the distribution list this fall.

Booster Pak was established in 2010 and now has an annual operating budget of about $60,000. The group has applied for a $10,000 grant from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

The group wants to open a food pantry at Valley High School to serve more students, increase portion sizes and give them more choice, including personal care items.

Valley High School Principal Jim Mollison said that will “provide a sense of security” to students in need.

“Just knowing they have enough to make it through the weekend is huge,” he told the newspaper. “Kids don’t stop getting hungry as they get older.”