Children’s Nutrition Coordinator
Gerrie Kopek
Gerrie Kopek is a devoted and enthusiastic employee of the Food Bank of Nevada County and whose tenure stretches over a period of 15 years. She has rightfully fulfilled the coordinator’s position, for the children, for the last five years. Gerrie began volunteering at the Food Bank after finishing a 23 year career and then meeting her husband and subsequently has been in a successful marriage for over 20 years.
Gerrie’s passion, at the Food Bank, has grown and developed from working closely with the former Food Bank Director, Toni Thompson. Toni’s efforts were deeply seated in making sure the children of Nevada County were cared for and that they were able to be fed with good nutritional foods that the Food Bank could acquire.
The journey continues and It is now Gerrie’s personal passion to carry on that same legacy. Gerrie is a diligent member of staff and she has rallied around her some very supportive and dedicated volunteers who share the same purpose and drive; as a result, making all the efforts work together effectively.
School Snack Program
The Food Bank's Children's Nutrition Program began in 2004.
The School Snack Program is meant to feed school children who would otherwise go hungry until lunch. Since the beginning of the School Snack Program, teachers have noticed an increase in the level of attention from their class and an overall improvement in the grades of the children who were not previously eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast. All snacks are nutritious and low in sugar.
If you are an instructor with a program or classroom that you feel can use the help of the Children's Nutrition Program, please contact our office at (530) 272-3796, Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Teacher's Testimony
"Snacks from the food bank are so very important to our students. Not only do they feed our students who are financially unable to purchase snacks from the vending machines during the school day, they feed students whose family is low on food at home, and students are able to focus and learn better when they have food available to them. In some cases, the snack cupboard is the reason that some students come to school and stay throughout the day.
Last year, a student was able to make it through the full school day when he had the provided snacks available to him. Without the snacks, he was unable to focus and became agitated. This young man is now working full time for a local business, and is continuing his learning.
Having the snacks available to them provides our students comfort and security they may not have otherwise. They know food will always be available in our cupboard."
Julie Gregerson Education Specialist
Silver Springs High School
Last year, through the School Snack program provided our local children with 10,890 snacks per week at 24 different schools.
Summer Lunch Program
During the school year, our local children are eligible for Free and Reduced lunches at the schools; however, during the summer months that particular plan is not available. Through the Food Bank’s Summer Lunch Program, to fill the gap, the Food Bank plans, arranges, and delivers prepared lunches to area low-income apartments and the YMCA summer camp.
A dedicated group of approximately 8 to 10 volunteers work diligently to make this program happen. Nutritious bag lunches consist of a sandwich or wrap with a serving of vegetable and a fruit, along with a drink and a cookie. The main protein(s) would be either tuna, turkey, or ham. All lunches that we supply are government mandated to be healthy and balanced.
Theses lunches are distributed Monday through Friday
for 7-8 weeks in the summer, while school is out.
Each year we provide approximately 4,500 lunches
to hungry children in Nevada County.
To find out where lunches are distributed or to become a Summer Lunch site,
please contact our office at (530) 272-3796 or email foodbanknc@att.net
Last year, the Summer Lunch program provided 4,636
nutritious lunches to 220 children living in 7 low-income apartment
