Dear Editor:

Did you know that nearly one in four Maine children, about 24 percent, is food insecure? According to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine ranks 18th in the nation and first in New England in terms of food insecurity (www.gsfb.org/hunger).

It’s not every day that you can make a difference, but you can this Saturday, April 5.

You can help hungry kids by eating just one meal. You eat one meal, Maine kids suffering from food insecurity will get 40 meals. 

Feed Our Scholars invites you, your family and friends to enjoy a spaghetti supper including gluten-free options and both vegetarian and traditional meat sauce. Plus yummy desserts! There will also be a nifty silent auction with many affordable items to choose from. Come on over this Saturday night to St. Philip’s Church in Wiscasset from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and “carbo load,” shop and help kids get enough to eat.

Feed Our Scholars is a group of local citizens who are making a difference. Once a week in Wiscasset, thanks to Feed Our Scholars, and the Good Shepherd Food Bank, 44 children receive a backpack full of food that can be used to snack and make a meal over the weekend so: students will come back to school less hungry; they will be better able to concentrate and enjoy school more; and they may become better educated and break the cycle of poverty and hunger.

There are 44 children currently enrolled in this first year of the program and at least 56 more who are eligible. Our goal is to enroll a total of 50 chilren next fall. It's going well, yet more support is indispensable to reach our goal. Your support and assistance are welcome and needed.

How you might also help: send a check made out to Feed Our Scholars c/o St. Philips Church, 12 Hodge Street, Wiscasset, ME 04578; commit to sponsoring a child for the school year; or for more information, call Gretchen Burleigh at 207-882-7647. 

More information is available online at feedourscholars.wordpress.com and at www.facebook.com/WiscassetFeedOurScholars  

Read our latest newsletter at feedourscholars.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/newsletter.pdf

Margot Stiassni-Sieracki
Edgecomb