Break Boxes Provide Meals for Willink Families during Recess

This winter recess, Webster CSD students will have two weeks off of school. While this may mean more fun for some, for others it may mean days without proper nutrition. Willink Middle School staff is aware of this need, so they identified several families within their school who would benefit from an influx of food prior to recess and mobilized their school community to help by creating Break Boxes.
 

Break Boxes are boxes of food that will include enough for nine meals per family with 13 families benefiting during the winter break.
 
Throughout the school year Willink has a food pantry students can take advantage of, and leading up to Winter Recess the Titans also have the Giving Tree that encourages staff to purchase gifts for Willink families who otherwise won’t have any during the holiday season. Both of these amazing causes were tapped into to help with the Break Boxes, but two weeks is a lot more food needed than usual. So the Willink food pantry reached out to their school community. They asked students and their families to donate non-perishable, shelf-stable items. Within 48 hours of making that request, Titan families had donated more than 650 items! They also asked staff to supply perishable foods, and the Willink workforce was equally generous!
 
On December 19, staff gathered to pack the Break Boxes. When they were done, there was plenty for each of the 13 families!
 
“Willink is truly a special place to work,” said Mary Hurley, a Willink school counselor. “We are more than just colleagues, we are family. When there is a need, Willink staff, teachers, students, and parents share the load and work together! Generosity and kindness are part of everyday life here but the response to our holiday projects has been awe-inspiring!”