“How would you solve hunger?”  

Nevaeh, 9, responds to the question by posing it to her younger brother. 

“I know, ban starving,” 8-year-old Omari replies.  

The siblings both look forward to receiving Harvesters’ BackSnacks with food to get them through the weekend. They especially enjoy the macaroni and cheese and fruit roll ups. Their mother keeps a “snack cabinet,” but the children know they need to make their snacks last “for more than a day.” 

Nevaeh, whose favorite subject is science, and Omari, whose favorite subject is math, are not alone. Ninety-four percent of the nearly 500 students at Whittier Elementary in Kansas City, Kansas., qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school’s counselor, Lainey Zumalt, says the need for BackSnack among her diverse student population is greater than the 65 she has available to give out each week. 

Both siblings agree good, nutritious food makes them feel better and helps their concentration in school, and they are aware when their sibling struggles to get enough to eat. 

“When she doesn’t have macaroni, she gets angry and her tummy rumbles. That means she gets hangry,” Omari explains. 

His favorite holiday is Thanksgiving “because we get turkey, and we also get my favorite mashed potatoes and macaroni…The funny thing is my mom says I’ll turn into macaroni and mashed potatoes if I keep eating it.” 

Meanwhile, their school nutrition staff offers opportunities to try new fruits and vegetables ranging from cauliflower to dragon fruit.