By Wyva Hasselblad

Andes Healthy SnakPaks is an entirely voluntary program providing a weekly SnakPak to all lower elementary grade students at the Andes Central School. Each Pak contains 4-6 healthy snacks – fresh fruit and crunchy vegetables, nuts and seeds, protein, and whole grains. With the support of the ACS and the local community, this program has expanded to include the 4^th grade this year. We are very grateful to the Andes Presbyterian Church for continuing to provide us with work and storage space, and access to their kitchen for snack preparation. Financial support from Cabin Hill Presbyterian Church, community and individual donations are our sole source of funding.

Meeting with ACS staff at the end of the 2017-18 academic year, we were assured of the enthusiastic support and involvement of teachers and support staff. As a way to boost awareness of the program, we had a SnakPak table at the ACS Open House on the evening of October 18th, and teachers are making plans to integrate the SnakPaks into their yearly focus on healthy living.

Each year we have a special celebration of distributing Christmas stockings full of extra special snacks, and gifts such as soft toys and pencils. We invite our readers and supporters to contribute to this event. Checks may be made out to Andes Healthy SnakPaks and sent to the above address or given to one of the volunteers. You will receive an acknowledgment of your gift in the mail. Thank you for supporting this program!~

 Volunteers: Alice DeVita, BevTravis, Buffy Calvert, Dennis DeVita, Gale Kabat, Marena Vittorio, Mary Sheerin, Tom Joyce, Wyva Hasselblad