Milk donation takes swipe at after-school hunger

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Two Flandreau businessmen are making sure school kids get a milk break when classes are out at the end of the day.
Scott Ramsdell of Ramsdells and Mike Witte of Maynard’s Grocery Store have started providing milk for all children who attend the Boys and Girls Club of Moody County.
“We found out the kids at the Boys and Girls Club were getting water after school instead of something more nutritious,” Ramsdell said. His grandkids and Witte’s children all mentioned how hungry they were when they got out of school. The club also provides a snack to go with the milk, typically fruit, a granola bar, cereal or a salty snack.
The Boys & Girls Club doesn’t get additional money to provide milk during the school year like it does in the summer for its government-sponsored feeding program.
“During the summer, they get milk every day but during the school year they haven’t had an opportunity to do that,” said Vanessa Merhib, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Brookings, Moody and Yankton counties. “We know they’re going home with a good snack and serving of dairy.”

It’s important that children have fuel to help with homework, she said. “Kids learn better and study better and feel better when they get a good snack and have their stomachs full,” she said. “I love that the community is embracing the club and its kids that way.”
On a recent day last week, students came to the club from school and could choose either cereal or veggie straws as a snack, plus a glass of milk. Several chose cereal and added their milk in their cup.
Since starting the program about a month ago, the organization has used between two and six gallons a day, Ramsdell said. The program is a way for the grocery store to use milk up that is getting close to its expiration date. “It’s not outdated. It’s just short dated,” Ramsdell said.
The afterschool program has seen increasing numbers of youth attending this fall. In August and September, an average of 89 youth attended daily, compared with about 69 a year earlier. At one point in October, 115 children came to the program on one day, the highest attendance at that point.
Since that time, club attendance is between 90 and 95 students each day, Merhib said.
Many children are excited about drinking the milk, while others might not consider milk a favorite. They are encouraged to try a sample, she said.
The growth in number may be because of several reasons. “Families and kids are having a positive experience and hearing positive things. We’ve had the same staff for a number of years, and I really think they create a positive place,” she said.
Ramsdell said the two businesses are glad to help prevent the students from being hungry.
“It’s a good program, and those kids are pretty important to all of us,” he said.