Help To Provide Lunch For Half Day School Students

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.