There are many in Clarksville-Montgomery County who may not be aware of a serious problem in our community: Children who are hungry. There is a local nonprofit organization known as F.U.E.L. that is working to help provide food for these children.
F.U.E.L. is a food subsidization program run totally by volunteers that feeds those children whose only food source may be what they receive from meals at school. Food is collected and placed directly into the backpacks of the children on Friday.
The children are chosen by the schools, not based on income, but based on signs of hunger. In Montgomery County every school is being served and 2,000 kids receive a bag of non-perishable food every Friday with around 72,000 bags of food handed out throughout the school year.
Denise Skidmore, founder of F.U.E.L., said the program has begun feeding children over the summer in addition to the rest of the school year.
“What we have started for distribution now is working with churches and other organizations to actually go into some of the lower income parts of Clarksville and either hold a meeting or something on site. When they do that we offer bags to them to provide to the children,” Skidmore said.
It’s been proven that hungry children suffer from poorer health, struggle to learn in school and have a higher risk of not graduating. Kids helped by F.U.E.L. score better grades and are more likely to come to school every day.
Make your plans now to sponsor a F.U.E.L. food collection or fundraising event with your church, business, group or civic organization. To find out more or to donate to the F.U.E.L. Ministry, go to www.fuelforkids.org or call 931-624-3181.