Help To Provide Lunch For Half Day School Students

The Half Day School’s (HDS) lunch program is a critical component of serving children most vulnerable to human trafficking. Through the HDS lunch program we are able to ensure that our students are receiving at least one nutritious meal a day. Food security is an integral piece of social justice and the success of this program is made possible with the support and care of our community and donors. 

            The Covid-19 pandemic has continued to disrupt our normal here at DEPDC. The pandemic has made it difficult for people to get together and visit DEPDC. The same has been true for HDS. But even amidst the tough times we have had great moments that were made possible because of our supportive community and networks.

            To support the lunch program, an old friend donated rice, dried food, eggs, vegetable oil, sugar, and canned fish for the survival bags that we put together for students and family. In addition, a local monk donated instant noodles, milk, snacks, and sweet drinks that they got from alms. On Mother’s Day a new friend donated organic rice, crispy fried tofu skins, and seasoned tofu skin for the children’s lunch. What a treat!

            We are so grateful to all of them. Even though times have been challenging, we have still been able to provide food security to the students and families of HDS.

            From everyone here at HDS we would like to extend a heartfelt and sincere thank you to all past, present, and future donors. As always, the work we do here at DEPDC is possible because of your generosity and shared passion in our mission to prevent the human trafficking of vulnerable youth.

HDS/DEPDC’s Lunch Program 

The Half Day School’s (HDS) lunch program is a critical component of serving children most vulnerable to human trafficking. Through the HDS lunch program we are able to ensure that our students are receiving at least one nutritious meal a day. Food security is an integral piece of social justice and the success of this program is made possible with the support and care of our community and donors.   

This semester the children continued to cultivate their cooking skills with the help of DEPDC’s teachers. The teachers also taught students how to grow bean sprouts and sunflower sprouts. After 5-10 days of growing, the sprouts were harvested and cooked for lunch. Students were also able to take some of the surplus harvest home with them. 

DEPDC was also very fortunate to receive food donations. In addition to feeding the students while in school, remaining supplies of food donations are equally divided between students to take home to their families. Some of the children do not have enough food at home and this is another way that DEPDC works to provide food security. A former daughter of DEP and many others donated rice, soy sauce, instant noodles, eggs, cooking oil, canned fish, and snacks. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic we also received donations of masks which we are very grateful for as they help to keep our students, staff, and community safe. A fun fact is that our neighbor here at DEPDC is a dairy and cattle farmer. They have been generous in their donation of fresh milk every Monday-Friday for three weeks. A community member also donated a full lunch as a way to celebrate their birthday. 

From everyone here at HDS we would like to extend a heartfelt and sincere thank you to all past, present, and future donors. As always, the work we do here at DEPDC is possible because of your generosity and shared passion in our mission to prevent the human trafficking of vulnerable youth.