POTSDAM – The Potsdam Snack Pack Program received a $2,500 donation from Brookfield Renewable Power to help the program get off to a solid start in the new year. The funds were raised by eight members of the Potsdam Power Walkers Team in a nationwide step competition.

The Brookfield team received $5,000 for their second-place finish, and the members (Andy Bracy, Kim Deshane, Cheryl Cole, Tim Parker, Zach Chapman, Kris Jordan, Jake Wheeler, and Joe Hazelton), decided to split the prize between two local programs.

Christopher Johnson, the A.A K. Middle School counselor, was on hand for the presentation by several members of the team, including Mark Luciano, from the Brookfield regional office in Queensbury, New York. Johnson stated that “the funds will help purchase food items for more than 125 middle school students enrolled in the program. Our students look forward to getting their snack packs and we’re grateful that this program exists in our community.” Program director, Laurell Brault, noted that the donation was a first from Brookfield, but she hopes to build on the relationship and partner with the company on other activities to support local students.

The snack pack program was launched in November 2016 and initially served only 40 elementary students. At the time, almost forty percent of the students were eligible for free or reduced lunch. Over the years the program has expanded and currently serves more than 325 students across the school district. Each week eligible students receive a snack pack with a minimum of eight items, including a lunch meal such as macaroni and cheese, tuna and crackers, Chef Boyardee microwavable meals, soup, and chicken or tuna in the pouch. During calendar year 2022 volunteers prepared 13,027 snack packs for Potsdam Central School District students.

If you would like to help prepare snack packs, donate funds, or support the program in other ways, visit their website, www.potsdamsnackpack.org, or Facebook page for more information.