FORK Cares increases benefit

With area families experiencing ever-increasing economic pressures, Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) has made the decision to increase the annual FORK Cares benefit to $300 per child per year.

FORK Cares provides grocery vouchers to food insecure children, within the Northland Pines, Three Lakes, and Phelps school districts, during their vacation time away from school; spring, winter and summer breaks.

“During their school year, based on family economics, children can receive a free breakfast and lunch at school,” explained Northland Pines District Administrator Scott Foster. “We have found that some children don’t look forward to their school vacations periods due to their household’s food insecurity issues.”

The action by the FORK Board of Directors will increase their projected annual FORK Cares expenditure from $32,000 annually to $60,000 in 2026.

“FORK’s goal is to give all children an equal opportunity to succeed,” said FORK President Perry Pokrandt. “Providing food-insecure children equal access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food is the basis of the Feed Our Rural Kids mission.”

FORK’s vote to increase program benefits was in response to ever increasing food costs, as well as their hope that the additional FORK Cares grocery vouchers will allow a family to supplement their children’s diets with fresh fruits and vegetables.

“FORK Cares has the potential to impact the quality of life for each of these kids, so the decision to increase the value of the program for our kids was an easy choice,” concluded Foster, who is also vice president for Feed Our Rural Kids.

The next FORK Cares grocery vouchers are being mailed now to program participants prior to their upcoming spring break.
Feed Our Rural Kids is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. You can learn more FORK at feedourruralkids.org.