Suncoast Credit Union Foundation Provides $24,000 to Feeding Dreams

(Naples, Fla.) — Feeding Dreams announces a new charitable gift of $24,000 from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. The funds will be used to supply Feeding Dreams Power Packs, weekend backpack meals, to 90 children at Hancock Creek Elementary School in Fort Myers, Fla. The purpose of the Weekend Backpack Meals for Hungry Children program is to replace the calories children miss over the 68-hour hunger gap between Friday’s school lunch and Monday morning’s school breakfast. Feeding Dreams provides a “best in class” set of weekend backpack meal offerings including 29 kid-friendly, shelf-stable servings designed to meet or exceed the USDA recommendations for calories, carbohydrates, and protein for elementary school aged children for two days over the weekend. Since 2014, Feeding Dreams has distributed more than 12 million meals to hungry children.

Feeding Dreams Executive Director Jeri Goetz says, “Sixty-eight hours is a long time for a child to go without eating and kids can’t learn on an empty stomach. During the week, students eat breakfast and lunch at school. Over the weekend they often go without eating enough or at all. Our meals fill that 68-hour weekend hunger gap. We know that Power Pack students earn better grades, achieve better attendance, receive fewer behavior infractions, and visit the school nurse less frequently. We’re grateful to Suncoast Credit Union Foundation for supporting the lives and dreams of at-risk children in our community.”

Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, founded the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to promote the education, health and emotional well-being of children in the community. Each time a Suncoast member uses their debit or credit card, the credit union donates four cents to the Foundation to fund local initiatives. Since its inception in 1990, the Foundation has raised and donated over $55 million.

“We are fortunate to partner in any endeavor that provides food and nutrition and particularly to vulnerable children who might otherwise go hungry,” said Jeff Kunberger, Executive Director of Suncoast Foundations. “While our mission calls for us to improve the lives of children, we know that when children thrive, so does the community,” he added.