United Way launches new meal assistance program for ‘Mat-Su Littles’

WASILLA — United Way of Mat-Su recently launched a new program to combat weekend food insecurity among small children in the Valley.

The Meals for Mat-Su Littles Project aims to provide food to local children ages infant to five years, according to a recent press release. United Way will distribute these meals to participating centers across the community.

“Because centers are also closed during the requisite holidays, and on weekends, we know that little ones in that age range who rely on center meals during the week are experiencing food insecurity, a problem compounded by the COVID-19 crisis,” United Way of Mat-Su Early Childhood Partnership Coordinator Michele Harmeling stated in a follow-up email.

United Way’s Early Childhood Partnership along with local volunteers and partners are banding together under a common cause to ensure that “little ones” across the Valley don’t go hungry, especially during the holidays.

According to Harmeling, local childcare providers are seeing skyrocketed enrollment rates for programs like child care assistance and free and reduced meals, all stemming from the COVID-19 crisis. She noted that providers feel that many of the families they serve are struggling due to the crisis, but they’re reframing from asking for help.

She said that some of the participating centers have formed specific shelves for small clothing, food, or baby changing materials, so that families can take what they need without any questions.

United Way recently held a trial distribution, serving over 2,000 individual snack packs donated by the Upper Susitna Food Pantry and Denali National Park to 12 different child care centers across the Valley who serve kids in need, including CCS Early Learning, Bright Minds Early Learning, Mousetrap Playschool Center, and Karousel Kidz Learning Center.

With the enthusiastic help of volunteers and partner agencies like Kids Kupboard, snack boxes were delivered all over the Mat-Su, and childcare staff were able to pass out food for the upcoming weekend.

According to Harmeling, the response was very positive. She said their trial run was met with “deep gratitude and enthusiasm to see this project continue.”

“This initial trial distribution went exceptionally smoothly. We are grateful for the partnership of other Valley agencies and our childcare and early childhood providers. However, we have only scratched the surface of meeting the needs of Mat-Su littles. At last count, with the help of childcare administrators from each center, over 350 individual children were identified as food insecure,” Harmeling said.

Harmeling said their hope is to provide nutritious, “packed-with-love” sack meals to the same 12 centers over the holiday season. Sack meals will be assembled and delivered to participating centers until the end of December.

“The Early Childhood Partnership has surveyed a comprehensive cross-section of those childcare providers, and overwhelmingly was met with an expression of great need. Providers feel that the children they serve are struggling, so we’ve decided to step in and help,” Harmeling said.

United Way’s Early Childhood Partnership is currently seeking volunteers to help assemble and deliver sack meals. People can also support the cause by collecting select snack items from the home or office.

They plan to stuff bags with a small toy, candy canes, and small gifts like stickers, mini-stuffed animals, crayons, and other stocking stuffers during December.

For more information, visit unitedwaymatsu.org/volunteer and select Early Childhood Partnership under the volunteer interests.

Donations can be mailed to the Early Childhood Partnership at 550 S. Alaska St, Suite 205, Palmer, AK 99645. Contact Harmeling at 907-745-5824 or admin@unitedwaymatsu.org for assistance.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com