Pupils aim to help hungry with drive

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Pupils attending Boardman, Canfield and Poland schools are helping feed hungry families in the community by collecting specially marked “Pound for Pound” seals on General Mills food products.

The “Pound for Pound” challenge is a cooperative effort among General Mills, “The Biggest Loser” and Feeding America Food Banks.

Each “Pound for Pound” seal mailed in from Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties will generate 10 cents for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.

Flora Schneider, board member of Second Harvest Food Bank, presented the idea to the schools, and they have implemented a five-week collection effort.

“It is important for kids to be made aware of the problems facing our neighbors and mobilize to give back, and the ‘Pound for Pound’ challenge provided the perfect avenue to do so,” Schneider said.

Seals can be found on the following General Mills products: Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, MultiGrain Cheerios, Total, Fiber One (cereal, bars, muffin mix, pancake mix and yogurt), Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers, Chex Mix 100 Calorie, Warm Delights Minis, Bisquick Heart Health, Cascadian Farm (cereal and bars) and Yoplait Light.

If your school district wants to get involved, contact Schneider at (330) 892-0085.

Second Harvest Food Bank provides food to 155 hunger relief organizations in the tri-county area.

These organizations include church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, shelters for battered women and after-school programs.