In September, AFS team members came together to support children in need through an initiative the company called “Serve-tember,” a month-long effort aimed at serving the local community. Spearheaded by the AFS’ Fun Committee, the project focused on assembling pantry packs, prepackaged bags of meals and snacks, to donate to local schools.
The pantry packs, contained in gallon-sized zip lock bags, were filled with six meals and four snacks. Items included instant meals, tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal packets, ramen noodles, granola bars, fruit snacks, applesauce cups, and peanut butter or cheese crackers. Team members were asked to either donate these specific items or contribute cash through payroll deductions. The response was overwhelmingly generous, far exceeding the original goal.
“Our goal was to make 250 bags, and we ended up with over 500, plus extra items that were donated,” said Denise Ward, senior executive assistant. The company collected donations throughout September, with additional products purchased from the distribution center to supplement contributions. The team then gathered to fill the bags, turning the activity into a lively, collaborative event.
The bags will be donated to the Granite Education Foundation, which serves students in the Granite School District. “We want to help students in our local area,” said Denise. “These packs will go to schools as needed.”
For many children who rely on free or reduced-price lunch during the week, weekends can be a time of food insecurity. The pantry packs provide a discreet way for students to receive meals over the weekend, as they are placed directly in their backpacks.
AFS participates in initiatives like Serve-tember as part of its ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates. In addition to the pantry pack effort, AFS supports a range of community projects, including Liberty Elementary’s “Bridge the Gap” program and the annual “Community Christmas,” which helps provide holiday gifts for over 2,000 children.