By Lucy Peterson
Due to rising costs and inflation, food struggle is a real issue for many families in Branford
The non-profit “Feed Branford Kids” has worked hard over the past few years to make food more accessible to all students in the Branford school district.
At Branford High School, the organization provides free take-home food bags that are distributed to students each week. Volunteers from FBK gather donations and pack the bags. Students at Branford High School help distribute the bags to students in need.
Volunteers at FBK help gather and pack the meals provided to Branford Public School students. 
Volunteers at FBK help gather and pack the meals provided to Branford Public School students. 
Food in the take-home bags comes from donations to FeedBranfordKids. 
BHS Students Ny’Asiah and Ellie help distribute the bags at BHS
FBK was created several years ago after a local resident, Johanne Pantani, came across something similar on a mission trip, according to her granddaughter, Jessica.
After two years of organizing and brainstorming, the program officially started in 2014 at the elementary schools. Jessica Pantani, who is now the vice president of FBK, works to help make sure the food is packed and distributed properly to all the participating schools in the district.
“During COVID-19, the program took a hit,” Pantani said. “But now in the last year we have been able to help feed students in the elementary, middle and high schools.”
At Branford High School, food bags are distributed to students on Friday afternoons, or whenever is convenient for the students, who pick them up in the office of Jennifer Miller, a social worker in the ATLAS program.
There are no eligibility requirements in order to get the food. Anyone that reaches out to Mrs. Miller, or any other health centers at BHS, can arrange to pick up a weekend food bag. The bag includes two breakfasts, two main meals, two cartons of milk, two juices, and plenty of snacks that will help to satisfy hunger needs over the weekend.
The food bags are packed usually once a week by FBK’s team of volunteers, and then they are distributed to the schools all across Branford. They are usually available for pickup toward the end of the week, but Mrs. Miller said she usually has extras if anyone is in need at a different time.
One student spoke about her experience with receiving a food bag by saying “whenever I am craving a midnight snack, or just don’t feel like cooking, I will just grab something from the food bag.”
Another student noted that “there is always a ton of variety” in the food bags, and that each week there is something different.
Since FBK is a true non-profit organization, all of their funding comes from sponsors, and donations. Anyone interested in donating, can visit the FBK website here. According to the FBK website, a donation of $455 will feed one child in Branford for an entire year.
Additionally, for students at Branford High School looking for a volunteer opportunity, the organization is always looking for help. There are details on the website about how to get involved.
