Local Afterschool Program Works to Address Food Insecurity

In light of recent news that SNAP benefits are dwindling and impacting Rhode Islanders, The Compass School's Girls on the Run team stepped up to create a local impact as part of their Community Impact Project. On Tuesday, November 4, the team of 28 girls in grades 3 through 5, prepared and packaged 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Loaves and Fishes' mobile food trucks to feed those in need, along with homemade greeting cards. The girls also collected gently used toys and clothing to donate to Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

The Compass School's Girls on the Run team is one of 30 teams in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. The program focuses on inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident and uses an experience-based curriculum that integrates running and service, culminating in a celebratory 5K event at which all teams join together to complete the distance. As part of the curriculum, participants identify a need within their communities and work together using the skills they’ve built in the program to turn their ideas into action and make a local impact. This season's celebratory 5K is scheduled for November 16 at the University of Rhode Island. This year, Girls on the Run RI will also be collecting non-perishable food items at the 5k to help families in our communities and encouraging everyone to contribute an item for RI Community Food Bank.

Coach Katie Garvin, the school counselor at The Compass School, noted, "The girls worked so hard together and were so energized by their efforts and results. Girls on the Run has been a valuable addition to The Compass School's after-school programming. This year’s community impact project, brainstormed and agreed upon by the full team of 28 girls, aligns with the school's mission of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. As a charter public school serving over 200 students from throughout Rhode Island, we work hard to provide hands-on learning opportunities that help all kids see how they can be thoughtful and compassionate leaders within their communities--even in elementary school."