Carryout for Kids

The mission of CARRYOUT FOR KIDS is to work with local Broward County Title 1 Schools to assist in feeding children who are identified as chronically hungry or food insecure. We provide food for children to take home over the weekend to help ensure they have the sustenance required to nourish their growing bodies, minds and spirits. Chronic hunger and food insecurity can be identified in a number of ways. Teachers and school staff may observe any of the following: a child who rushes food lines, eats quickly, regularly asks other students and teachers for food, and saves and hoards food to take home.

HOW CAN YOU HELP RIGHT NOW?

Thursday Mornings: Carryout for Kids is looking for drivers to help make deliveries to local schools. We deliver on Thursday mornings, and it requires approximately one and one-half hours of your time. CO4K anticipates having as many as 225 students to feed this year. Please contact Pastor Fawn Mikel for details at 954.771.7300 x250, or by email.

HOW IT WORKS | WHAT WE NEED | VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

CARRYOUT FOR KIDS is housed at the Christ Church Ministry Center in Pompano Beach. Our ministry gathers food through food donations, food drives and purchased with monetary donations. A team of volunteers coordinate with the schools to identify the number of bags needed each week, and then packs and delivers the bags to the schools. The School Liaison or School Volunteer accepts the delivery, stores and distributes the sacks every Thursday. We also coordinate holiday deliveries with each school.

If you are looking for a service opportunity please let us know! We are a vital ministry with many needs. It takes many people to accomplish our goals. For a list of items needed, and volunteer opportunities, please see below.

For more information on Carryout for Kids, contact Pastor Fawn Mikel for details at 954.771.7300 x250, or by email.

CRITICAL ITEMS NEEDED:

Vienna Sausages
Small cans (3-5 oz) of tuna or chicken, preferably with pop-tops
12-18 oz jars of peanut butter (No glass, please. Items are handled by children.)
3-pack individual boxes of shelf stable milk (Nestles, Hershey's, Parmalat, etc.)
100% real fruit juice boxes (100% Juicy Juice, etc. No pouches, please. Pouches are easily punctured.)
Boxes of macaroni and cheese
Canned raviolis, spaghetti, spaghetti-o's
Cans of tomato or chicken noodle soup

OTHER ITEMS NEEDED:

4 oz multi-pack fruit cups (usually come 4-6 in a package, and not in jello)
4 oz multi-pack applesauce (usually come 4-6 in a package)
Nature Valley granola bars (no Rice Krispie Treats, please)
Peanut Butter crackers
Individual size boxes of cereal (Kellogg's, General Mills, etc.)
Snack size boxes of raisins or "Craisins"
Gift cards for Walmart, BJ's, Publix and Winn-Dixie
Please no candy, cookies, gum, chips/pretzels or toys.

VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTIONS:

SHOPPERS: Collect and/or sort donated coupons. Shop for specific non-perishable food items at BJ’s, Dollar Stores, and groceries having 2-for-1 or special sale prices. Take items back to storage room at Christ Church Pompano Beach site. Unpack and shelve items. Tear down cardboard containers and help pick up room.
BAG ASSEMBLY: Fill plastic bags with non-perishables from Christ Church Pompano Beach storage room. Fill large storage containers with assembled bags. When finished, help pick up room.
DELIVERY: Storage containers filled with assembled bags are delivered to 4 schools every week. The numbers of bags/containers vary from school to school, but the maximum will be 35 bags/4 containers per school. Delivery (usually on Thursdays) takes about 15-20 minutes plus drive time.
MISCELLANEOUS: Students from various groups such as Honor Society and Youth Groups sometimes help with Bag Assembly. At those times, we need assistance with organizing and supervising these groups.
FOOD DRIVES: Assist with handing out brown bags after church services, and help collect the filled bags the following week.
COMMUNITY LIAISON VOLUNTEERS:
1. Contact stores (Publix, Winn-Dixie, Albertson’s) to organize food drives on their premises.
2. Contact municipalities (city commissioners, etc), service groups (Jaycees, Rotary, etc) schools (public and private), restaurants, local businesses, the VFW, Boy/Girl Scouts--to generate public interest, corporate giving (resource, volunteers, charity nights).
3. Help assemble a team to run a food drive and return the collected food to the Pompano Campus.
4. Contact other churches to do the same or to help them start a pilot program in their school districts.
GRANT/ FUNDING SEARCHES: Use available resources (Internet, public listings, and local libraries) to find and apply for money to fund the work of Carryout for Kids.