umsami Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 I visited a school earlier this week, and while I was waiting in the office, I saw a stream of kids (maybe five or more) come into the office. The admin would go in the back, and find some food to give them. It was lunch time. One kid got a plate full of rice krispies, and an apple.... another kid got some cheese + crackers and something else, etc. I realized that these kids either didn't have lunch or had forgotten it, and the secretary was trying to give them something to tide them over from what they had in the back. I'd like to make it easier on them by dropping off a donation. Any ideas??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 nutri-grain bars/protein bars (costco will rotate what's on sale.) trail mix the mozzarella cheese sticks are great - but require refrigeration. most will go through them before they expire. dudeling hated them. those cheese and cracker things. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrichor Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 peanut butter crackers are probably a no go for a school, but what about cheese cracker sandwiches? pretzels? apple sauce? a jar of peanut butter substitute (assuming peanuts aren't allowed at school, a bunch of plastic knives, a jar of jelly, and a bag of bread? tuna salad and crackers? I've seen tuna salad sold in little packets. Is that something kids will eat? Mine would, but it might seem weird to some kids. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Little boxes of raisins or other dried fruit. Fruit bowls in the plastic containers (I know Dole makes them) with plastic spoons. The tuna pouches, cereal bars, and protein bars are a good ideas. I don't know if there are small packages of trail mix, but that might be an issue due to the nuts. Any individual packages/bags of crackers or cereal. That is so nice of you to help! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) Our elementary school cafeteria gives out cheese sandwiches in this case. (They gave them out for a ice day once and ever since my son has declared sometimes he -wants- the cheese sandwiches!) Edited March 15, 2018 by vonfirmath 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Little boxes of raisins or other dried fruit. Fruit bowls in the plastic containers (I know Dole makes them) with plastic spoons. The tuna pouches, cereal bars, and protein bars are a good ideas. I don't know if there are small packages of trail mix, but that might be an issue due to the nuts. Any individual packages/bags of crackers or cereal. That is so nice of you to help! There are individual portions of trail mix but they have peanuts in them, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Another idea - granola bars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Granola bars Shelf stable milk Fruit cups Or, more to the point, ask if there is a fund to contribute to. If there’s not, you could just as easily donate 10 envelopes with the $2.50 or whatever school lunches cost at your school in them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 I donate to a fund that pays off the “school lunch debt†that kids across the district rack up. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) Pop-tarts or an organic equivalent. Not terribly nutritious, but they last forever and are super filling, and kids love them. Bel Vita bars are also amazingly filling, although a lot of kids might not like the texture. Luna bars or Z Bars (Z Bars are probably appealing to more kids than Luna bars). One of my son's famous (in our house) sayings is, "Anything's a meal if you eat enough of it," so I would not necessarily focus on things that look like meals. ETA: Shelf-stable chocolate milk. It looks disgusting to me, like all milk products, but my HS senior lives on them, as do plenty of her friends. Edited March 15, 2018 by plansrme 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Raisins, applesauce cups. Do they have microwaves available? That would let you get Easy Mac, Spaghettios, Ravioli, lots more options, in lunch size portions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Dehydrated or freeze dried fruits - leathers, chips, etc Fresh shelf stable fruits - apples, banana, etc Popcorn Granola bars Nuts - (these may or may not be allowed) peanut butter crackers, almond butter packet, roasted cashews, pistachios, etc Juice boxes Salted/dehydrated meat - jerky, etc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) I keep a lot of snacks in the car because my older son is usually ravenous after school. Clif Bars, applesauce, crackers. Pepperoni sticks. Apples can last a week or even longer sitting out so that’s another option if they go through things fast. Another thought- do the kids have access to a microwave? Not sure if it’s a high school or not. My brother keeps those single serve Mac and Cheese portions and heat and serve pasta pouches in his car for weeks at a time and they are fine. Edited March 15, 2018 by LucyStoner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 I donate to a fund that pays off the “school lunch debt†that kids across the district rack up. I do this too. The local public schools give these funds to the school administrators and they manage the funds to pay for the lunches, supplies, field trips etc of kids who cannot afford these things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 One of the schools we were at had a caring cupboard with microwaveable soup, apple sauce, granola bars, pudding, ichiban... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 I would actually see if I could start a fund that would buy hot lunch or at least something like sandwiches for kids who didn’t have a lunch. That way they could have access to some more filling foods that are perishable. The school could leverage its bulk buying power that way. Alternately, what about asking for donations toward a refrigerator, microwave, cooler, or even an instant hot water kettle? Those would allow greater varieties of food too. I just feel like they could add so many forms of protein if they could keep things cool, and those would stick to little bellies better. Otherwise: Good granola bars Pudding cups Cheese or PB cracker packages Trail mix Olive cups Fruit cups Does anyone sell small veggie packets with dip that isn’t perishable? Packages of nuts if the school isn’t nut free. Pepperoni Beef jerky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 Raisins, applesauce cups. Do they have microwaves available? That would let you get Easy Mac, Spaghettios, Ravioli, lots more options, in lunch size portions. Oh yes, they do have a microwave. That expands the options a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Slim Jim Cheese and cracker packs (those non-refrig ones) Applesauce packs (the kind you twist off the lid and suck down) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Cup of noodles are easy and inexpensive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 Cup of noodles are easy and inexpensive. Yes! I saw massive packs of Ramen and Cup-o-Noodles last time I was at the warehouse store. I'll bring some of those in, definitely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Yes! I saw massive packs of Ramen and Cup-o-Noodles last time I was at the warehouse store. I'll bring some of those in, definitely. Check and see if they have room for the big packs. Maybe buy only one first. One of the schools near me doesn’t have much room as the food drawer is one section of the filing cabinet. Also, they might not want items that have to be microwaved. Applesauce, raisins, pretzels, those ready to eat lunch kits of tuna/chicken are easy ideas on space and no prep. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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