Starfish Pack was awarded the Abbotsford school district Community Matters Award at the last public board meeting of the year on Tuesday (June 18).
Starfish Pack helps feed children over the weekends when they may not have access to food. Since the program started in 2013, it has grown to annually support 741 students at 42 schools in Abbotsford.
"Not only has this met the physical needs of students who would otherwise go hungry, but also significantly improves scholastic outcomes for many students receiving support," superintendent Sean Nosek said.
The committee said that they chose Starfish Pack as the award recipient because they support such a large number of students and schools across the district.
Starfish Pack relies on over 100 volunteers and one staff member to purchase, pack and deliver seven pallets of food weekly. They have grown to service 24 cities and 3,800 children and families throughout B.C. and Whatcom County in Washington state.
The Community Matters Award has been presented once per year since 2015 as a way to formally recognize community partners who have exceeded their community service mandate. Organizations and individuals who have made a significant contribution to Abbotsford school district students can be nominated.
