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OGDEN — It's hard to believe there are kids who don't look forward to weekends and holidays off from school, but there are thousands of them here in Utah. In the northern part of the state, Catholic Community Services is trying to bridge the hunger gap between home and free school meals.
"It just helps, it helps a lot," said Jamie Burt, a sixth-grader at Dee Elementary in Ogden.
On the first Friday of every school month, the 11-year-old is one of 360 students at Dee who takes home two free bags of groceries.
Jamie says, "The program to me means a lot."
The program is called Bridging the Gap, and it is designed to cover the hunger hole on weekends for kids who fill up on free breakfast and lunch during the school day.
"I think the need for food in the home is even deeper than any of us even realized," said Gail Williams, an instructional coach at Dee Elementary.
Jamie describes the hunger problem in her home in this way: "I honestly live in a house with 10, and it's kind of hard for my mom to feed all of us."
It's also hard for Catholic Community Services of Northern Utah to feed all the children who go hungry — an estimated 1 in 5 in the state.
"It's hard to hear those numbers, and it's even harder to hear kids say they don't want to go home from school or they don't want to be gone on a Christmas break because they don't know where they're going to be fed," said Randy Chappell, director of CCS of Northern Utah.
Right now, the CCS mobile food bank is reaching out to about 2,000 kids at five Ogden schools, but only once a month.
Chappell says, "We want to keep building that up to where more kids are being helped."
It is the kind of help and nourishment educators say students need to learn. Williams talks about a third-grader at Dee who was struggling in class. She asked him, "Are you hungry?" and the boy said, "Yes, I am."
Jamie is acutely aware of that struggle.
"It's more hard to concentrate when you're hungry because your stomach hurts, and it's just hard," she said.
It's a reality that hits home with dozens of student volunteers from St. Joseph's High School in Ogden.
"I come from a family that's always had to work to make sure that we had enough, but my mom and dad have always been able to provide for us whatever we need," said senior Mercedes Brown.
Brown and her St. Joseph's classmates know many of the kids who take advantage of the food program have needs that are rarely filled.
"It breaks my heart to know that some kids don't have that luxury because it is really sad knowing that they don't have enough to live comfortably like I do," said Brown.
In fact, feeding these kids is food for Brown's soul.
"There are no words for how great this is, and I can't describe how happy it makes me feel to know that it's helping kids that really need it," she said.
Chappell said there are so many in the community who want to give back.
"I think everyone wants to help someone," he said. "It's a smaller thing, but it goes a long way."
Williams knows the program wouldn't happen without volunteers.
"We appreciate all the volunteers, and I know much of the money and food is donated, but it does make a big difference," she said.
It's a difference in the lives of so many children who really appreciate the support.
"I would honestly like to thank them so much for how much they help me out. It's incredible," Jamie said.
Bridging the Gap organizers want to expand the program to include more schools and the number of days they visit.
If you'd like to support the effort with donations of food or money, visit its website.
