Local organization announces fundraising campaign to help hungry kids

Pictured are the items going home in today's bag.

Marshall, Sept. 20, 2013 - Marshall Food4Kids, a local non-profit organization dedicated to helping feed hungry children in Marshall, announced today a campaign to raise $10,000 by January 1, 2014. The organization helps children in households that are having trouble putting food on the table by sending a bag of nutritious snacks home with students every weekend.

Many are not aware there is a great need for a program like this. Of Marshall students, 36% are eligible for free or reduced price lunches through the National School Lunch Program. The state average is 14%.

"As a second career Pastor and a former chef I am passionate about food," said Chad Bergjord, a Marshall Food4Kids committee member. "When I heard about the need for this I was excited to be a part of the team. It is important to me to see that children have food throughout the weekend and that no child in this area has to go hungry for a long period of time."

Several area churches pledged funds to kick-start Marshall Food4Kids for the 2013-2014 school year. The program is currently providing food for 98 kindergarteners at Park Side Elementary every Friday.

“The raised funds will be used for food for the children,” said Lisa Olin, a Marshall Food4Kids committee member. “Our long term goal is to be able to provide food to other grades in addition to the kindergarten class we are currently serving.”

The inaugural fundraising campaign has several parts:

Hy-Vee Food Drive
Volunteers will operate a table at Hy-Vee in Marshall the week of Sept 23. Customers can visit the table to learn more about the program and make food or monetary donations. The table will be staffed from 4-6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and all day the remainder of the week ending on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Baked Potato Supper
Albright United Methodist Church has designated a portion of the proceeds from their yearly Baked Potato Supper for Marshall Food4Kids. The supper, which will be Sept. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at Albright UMC in Marshall, consists of a large, piping hot baked potato with butter and sour cream, choice of various hearty toppings, beverage and dessert. The cost is $7 or a donation.

Pizza Ranch Tip Night
Volunteers will help serve guests at Marshall’s Pizza Ranch October 28. The organization will receive donations in the form of tips from guests and a percentage of the sales that night.

Fundraising website
A website at has been set up at www.marshallfood4kids.org allowing monetary donations to be accepted. $4 provides one child with food for one weekend, $16 provides one child with food each weekend for an entire month and $152 provides one child with food each weekend for the entire school year.

“We are in the early stages of fundraising. We have been to some local businesses and will continue to do so,” Bergjord said.

Olin added, “It's important we are helping the children in need within our community.”

If you have questions or want to find out how you can help, please send an email to [email protected] or visit the organization’s website at www.MarshallFood4Kids.org or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MarshallFood4Kids.

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