A Snack Program Nourishes Cortez Students and Addresses Food Insecurity

Food insecurity has been a problem since the day Cortez’s Southwest Open School opened its doors. Many students and families at Cortez’s alternative high school struggle to find enough to eat, let alone access healthy food at home. Roughly three-quarters of students visit teachers during the school’s designated snack break, but the school can only offer one small snack once per day. With many students hungry, they often spend their limited money on processed snacks that make it harder to focus in class. When one school staff member saw how hunger was affecting students and their learning, she reached out to LOR with an idea. LOR’s funding will help Southwest Open School purchase a year’s worth of healthy snacks as well as food storage and a refrigerator, giving students more consistent access to healthy snacks during school hours and after-school activities. The school will also launch a food distribution site where families can access nutritious groceries.