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11/06/2016 10:50 AMWith a recent financial boost of nearly $25,000, Feed Branford Kids (FBK) just locked in another 12 months' worth of weekend breakfast, lunch and snacks to send home with over 150 hungry school kids every Friday. But the founder and her friends who run the grassroots program say Branford easily has another 200 kids waiting in the wings.
All-volunteer FBK is run in cooperation with Branford Public Schools and with fiduciary oversight from non-profit Branford Food Pantry (BFP). With seed money given by her family, FBK was started up by Branford resident Johanne Pantani and a handful of friends in November 2014.
Their first delivery for 10 kids quickly mushroomed to 70 per week. That figure doubled during the 2015-16 school year and hit 156 per week when school started up again this fall.
In Branford, one in four public school students qualify for federally-assisted free or reduced lunch. The figure not only shows a huge need in town, but also the need for programs like FBK to step in and help kids on days when school isn't in session. Currently, FBK assists kids from Tisko, Murphy, and Sliney elementary schools (grades Pre-K – 4) as well as St. Mary's School (Pre-K - 8) and pre-schoolers at Family Resource Center (former Indian Neck School).
FBK periodically sends home flyers with all elementary school kids to notify of the opportunity to sign up for the program. No child will be turned away. Signing up simply requires making a request through the child's school, said BFP President and FBK volunteer Wendy Cowles.
But some parents may not be asking for the free service because "...they don't feel comfortable stepping up to ask for help," said FBK volunteer Sue Barnes.
Other stalwart FBK volunteers quietly getting the job done with Pantani, Cowles and Barnes are Branford residents Pat Andriole and Carol Stewart. Barnes and her family, including brothers Dan and Mark Cosgrove, also contribute the ample warehouse space in town for FBK's food storage and sorting.
Each week, kids supported by FBK get two breakfast cereals, milk, juices and two easy-to-prepare lunches (canned pasta, chicken or tuna) as well as two fruits and two snacks.
"We also put in a bag of popcorn for the family, so they can enjoy it together at night," said Cowles.
Getting the food into the backpacks is taken care of behind the scenes during the school day.
"We want it, as much as possible, to be anonymous for us and for other kids in the school," says Cowles. "We give each school a bunch of bags, and while the kids are in class they will put the bags into the kids' backpacks. So they come in with a light backpack and go home with one that's heavy with food."
It costs about $2,000 a month to provide provisions for the kids currently assisted by FBK, said Stewart.
A good deal of the program's success is due to some very important support from entrepreneur and Branford resident Kamran Farid and his family. The Farids' support started in November 2014, when they gave FBK a donation of $20,000.
Another Branford business making a significant show of support is Branford-based Onofrio's Total Construction (OTC), which established a golf tourney in 2015 to benefit FBK. To the delight of OTC President and tourney organizer Debbie Onofrio, Farid signed on as the 2015 tourney's $10,000 Diamond Sponsor.
On September 20, 2016, OTC held it's second annual golf tourney benefit FBK, with Farid once again contributing $10,000 as the event's Diamond Sponsor.
"So in about two years, Kamran Farid has given $40,000 to Feed Branford Kids through his donations," said Onofrio. "That's really wonderful."
This year's tourney cleared a total donation of $24,325 for FBK, which Onofrio, joined by Farid, delivered to Pantani and her volunteers at the FBK warehouse space on Nov. 4.
OTC, a family business for over 35 years, was in the process of moving to a new space in town when Branford First Selectman James B. Cosgrove helped put them in touch with FBK through Andriole, said Onofrio.
"We said if there are any charity events we can get involved in, let us know; and Jamie Cosgrove said, 'I've got just the thing,'" she said.
From the start, Onforio inducted the very capable FBK ladies onto her new golf tourney committee.
"We all have our own special niche," said Onofrio.
The tourney committee is grateful for the generosity of the event's sponsors, as well as the support of many local companies providing goods and services. In addition to Farid's Diamond Sponsorship, other 2016 tourney sponsors contributed money and prizes.
"All of the businesses in Branford that have stepped up to the plate have been wonderful; and the players love the tournament. We've sold out, both years," said Onofrio. "Everybody loves helping children. That's just dear to everyone's heart."
Farid said FBK's mission especially resonates with him. He established non-profit Kamran Farid Foundation in 2014 to help identify and support unmet needs in communities worldwide, in areas including health and wellness, education, sustainability and emergency relief. Learn more at www.kamranfaridfoundation.com
Farid is co-founder of Edible Arrangements, which opened its first store in East Haven in 1999 and now has over 1200 franchises worldwide. He was just three years old when he arrived in the United States from Pakistan with his parents, who worked hard to find success here.
"We came to this country without much, so I understand what these kids go through at school," said Farid. "It also very important to me to get my kids involved, so they understand, and see these ladies and their involvement. They do such an amazing job."
To learn more about Feed Branford Kids, find them on Facebook. Donations made out to Branford Food Pantry, with "Feed Branford Kids" in the check memo, can be mailed to Branford Food Pantry, 30 Harrison Ave., Branford, CT 06405. To contact Onofrio's Total Construction for future golf tourney and sponsor information, email deborah@onofriostotalconstruction.com