Backpack Buddies

For the past seven holiday seasons, Sarah Marks and her family take time out to give back to the community. This year is no different. Sarah, a mother of six, values the importance of giving back to local charities, especially ones that benefit children.

“So often we recognize the needs on a national or international level, but there are children here in Brevard County that don’t know where they will get their next meal from,” Sarah said.

The Children’s Hunger Project is a cause close to the Marks family’s heart. “This is all about feeding the kids here in Brevard. I couldn’t imagine my kids not eating on the weekends.”

This is an ongoing effort throughout the year. Almost 50 percent of Brevard County’s students participate in the free and reduced-price lunch program. With a demand that great, this problem exists every weekend, not just around the holidays. The food that is packaged will be distributed to hungry children through The Children’s Hunger Project Backpack Program.

This holiday season, the Marks family is hosting the Grom Social Packing Day event to create food packs on December 21. This is a private event held at their home for about 40 people including children. “I am blessed to have an opportunity to teach my kids and their friends about giving back to our local community. This event addresses a local need, but it is also a valuable teaching tool,” Sarah said. Sarah’s son, Zach, founded Grom Social, a fun, safe and educational social networking site, made by kids for kids. In order for a kid to sign up, they must have parental or a legal guardian’s approval.

A one-time donation of $150 will feed one child on the weekends for an entire school year. For those interested in donating money to the Grom Social Packing Day, make personal checks out to: The Children’s Hunger Project at 6000 S. Hwy A1A, Melbourne Beach, 32951. Your donation will help buy food that will be distributed to hungry children through The Children’s Hunger Project Backpack Program.

For more information on Grom Social, visit GromSocial.com. For those interested in volunteering or donating to The Children’s Hunger Project, please visit TheChildrensHungerProject.org.

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