MADISON – Food insecurity can damage children’s health and brain development years before they enter a classroom, according to Children’s Health Watch. By kindergarten, food-insecure children are often cognitively, emotionally, and physically behind their food-secure classmates.

In the Madison City School system, an estimated 20% of students live in poverty, said Madison School Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols, which means many kids come to school hungry.

“These kids need assistance, and a snack goes a long way towards helping them get through the day,” he said. “But it’s not just for kids in poverty. Kids often come to school having missed a meal and they too need sustenance throughout the school day.”

In August, Madison Visionary Partners launched Snacks for Success to raise funds to help address the problem.

Last week, MVP and the Madison Chamber of Commerce presented a check to Nichols for $2,080 for the Snacks for Success campaign.

“Teachers and staff members can’t be with these kids every day, but they can see when something is not right and a student needs food assistance,” said Nichols. “We will provide this information in food packets at the school level where teachers don’t have to reach out to the central office to ask for it. It’s right there in the schools.”

The money will buy more than 150 boxes of snacks for students in the schools.

“There are a lot of unmet needs in our schools that a lot of people do not realize, and this is a way for the community to come together to meet those needs,” said Michelle Epling, executive director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce. “And Snacks for Success also helps middle and high school students.

“When you have a bad day, sometimes a snack can make a student feel better, too.”

Nichols said the donation will help determine future efforts.

“We will gauge how many of the snacks are used, where they are used, and watch for patterns to determine what the needs are for the future,” he said.