Berkeley Families Pack 40,000 Meals to Benefit Families in Need

Students, parents, alumni and faculty and staff came together as part of the second Family Service Day of the school year to serve their community to help those in need. Again this year, the Service Day volunteers partnered with Feeding Children Everywhere to package nutritious meals for children in our community who are at risk for going without consistent meals during long, school breaks. The food will be distributed through the Hillsborough Education Foundation.
 
In the weeks leading up to the event, the volunteers were encouraged to discuss (together) various aspects of giving back and why it’s important. This year, Berkeley’s Family Service Council encouraged families to gain insight into the lives of those they served by taking part in the SNAP Challenge. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and represents the program formerly known as food stamps. On Saturday, February 20, members of school community were asked to live on $4.50 per person, per day – the average food stamp benefit. Members of Congress, governors, state officials, journalists and other community leaders have taken this challenge and have learned firsthand what it is like to try to make ends meet on the average food stamp benefit.
 
The Family Service Council was formed in 2013 inspired by Berkeley’s mission as a service-driven community to make a positive difference in the world and to encourage students and their families to be service providers together.