Full of grace

Pantry Peeps volunteer their time to create weekend meals for local students in need. GRACE PACKS

Nonprofit provides children with vital learning tool: food

BY ELLEN GILLETTE

Linda Chastain spearheads the Peanut Butter Brigade, asking businesses, clubs and schools to donate. GRACE PACKS PHOTOS

Close to 20% of children in St. Lucie County are what is known as food insecure. They could be homeless; their parents could be between jobs or ill. Whatever the reason, these children aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from, or if it will. Parents and guardians may apply for free and reduced school meals, but schools are only in session Monday through Friday. What, if anything, do food insecure children eat on the weekends?

The mission — and the joy — of Port St. Lucie-based Grace Packs, Inc., is to provide weekend food, every week, for students who lack a sufficient food supply. Operated entirely through volunteers, it has grown tremendously over its 15 years.

At the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, Lisa Ferrick and Laura Klosterman recognized a need. Ferrick was cafeteria manager at Oak Hammock K-12 at the time; Klosterman taught there. “The face of hunger” presented in different ways, but a pattern emerged. For example, more kids asked to see the nurse on Mondays, complaining of stomach aches or headaches.