GoPacks: Program providing a vital service
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A bag of groceries is one of the most ordinary things a family can buy. But, for many households, filling that bag has become a checkbook-balancing act.
Meat or fresh produce? Food or medicine? Groceries or the utility bill?
Grocery prices were 2.7% higher in June than they were in the same month a year ago, while fruit and vegetable prices increased 5.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For parents already living on the edge, even a small increase in costs can leave less food in the refrigerator between paychecks -- and those are not small increases.
This is why GoPacks' work in Marietta remains vital. The nonprofit provides nutritious food to students, often consisting of breakfast foods, canned vegetables and proteins, and carbohydrates to fuel them throughout the week.
GoPacks is not a handout program.
It follows a two-way giving model -- families receive food, resources and support; but they take an active role in the program by attending classes and workshops on financial literacy, nutrition and other skills.
This doesn't just fill an immediate gap, but helps families strengthen their ability to manage future challenges.
A financial literacy class helps a parent build a budget or better understand household expenses. Nutrition education helps families make healthier choices. Workshops and community events introduce parents to organizations and people that can help.
Food insecurity is not always visible; it can be a parent skipping a meal so a child can eat, stretching groceries way longer than planned or choosing less nutritious food because it is cheaper.
And while GoPacks cannot control grocery prices or eliminate poverty, it is doing what it can. That's no replacement for responsible public policy that also addresses the challenges our families are facing.
GoPacks meets families where they are, and their dedication to our vulnerable kids warrants support. Rising costs have affected us all. But residents who are able should consider donating, volunteering or supporting GoPacks' events.
Surely their efforts are inspiring community partners to consider developing similar programs in other parts of our valley.
GoPacks isn't just handing out bags of food; it is helping Washington County families learn, grow and develop relationships that can last long after their children graduate high school.