Submitted by the Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands

The Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands is pleased to announce a $5,000 matching grant for its 36 weekends program supplying weekend nutrition for kids. This will allow us to expand the program from the Elementary School to the Middle and High School on San Juan Island.

36 Weekends was patterned after a Canadian program called The Starfish Program. The program was started as a pilot project in response to a teacher’s cry for help. She was feeding many of her Kindergarten students who were coming to school on Monday hungry. The hunger was affecting their moods and their ability to focus in class.

Many students across the country rely on school breakfast and lunch programs on school days. When it comes to the weekend, they go hungry. 36 Weekends was designed to address that gap. 36 Weekends provides bags with 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks to hungry students each weekend of the school year and now during the summer.

Teachers have reported improvements in children’s reading skills, math skills, ability to focus and to do partner work. 36 Weekends has now expanded from just the school year to 52 weeks to make sure children on San Juan Island don’t have to worry about weekend hunger.

For more information, to donate to the program or volunteer to help deliver food go to:

https://rotaryfoundationsanjuanislands.org/36-weekends

Or the San Juan Island Community Foundation (donations) at:

https://sjicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2783