CHOW is an acronym for Combating Hunger Over Weekends. Some may know about the program, but many do not know how it works. To help people better understand it, I asked founder Patty Aubel how it works. She said, “[CHOW is] mostly community funded…a combination of individual citizens, businesses, and organizations in our area offer monetary donations to purchase food items. Volunteers run CHOW, so the only expense is the food. CHOW volunteers shop, pack, and distribute food. Food is shelved in a designated room within the school. Each week during the school year, food is packed for several students. Any student can receive a bag. Each school year, CHOW sends out a form to all families. It simply explains what CHOW offers, and that there is a food bag that their child can receive. If interested, a family can fill [the form] out and return it to the school. There is no requirement to show ‘proof’ of a need to receive a bag. Each year, a new master list is created by one person. CHOW volunteers only see a list of recipients by number…no names are ever printed, as to remain anonymous. The number of students who receive bags ranges each year and is dependent on how many sign up. There has never been a student denied a food bag, nor has CHOW ever run out of food to distribute. Word-of-mouth has brought many volunteers to help out with CHOW. Currently, the lead person for CHOW has organized a rotation for packing and distributing the food bags each week. Substitutes for the current year’s volunteer rotation schedule are always welcome. Also, donations can be written to CHOW and given to the secretary in [either] school office.”
I asked Mrs. Aubel when CHOW began and why it started. She said, “CHOW began in 2013. So many communities have residents that have one thing in common: a lack of food. Some simply don’t have the resources to obtain food.” To dig deeper into that question, I asked her why it started. She responded, “In 2013, while doing some research, it was found that other communities and schools had similar food programs to support students…other food programs were successful, not just in our surrounding area but also nationwide. There were lots of examples to read about, which allowed for CHOW volunteers to then create a model specific to our needs at Okawville. A questionnaire was sent to teachers in the Okawville schools asking their opinion if there were students in their classrooms that might benefit from having some extra food sent home on Fridays, for weekend snacks. The questionnaire responses showed a need for the CHOW program.”
CHOW does not only take place during the school year; it also takes place during the summer. This summer, the CHOW program was a success. Due to the help of many, children were able to receive bags filled with breakfast and lunch items. Thanks to the Lion’s Club’s generous donation of $2,500, the CHOW program was able to buy these items. Thanks to the CHOW ladies and West Washington County #10, volunteers were able to pack the bags and make the deliveries. Without them, this program would not be possible. During the school year, the CHOW volunteers, also known as the ninjas, are let into the school and deliver the bags to lockers each week, while are in class, so other students know who gets the bags.
If anyone would like to donate to the CHOW program, they would be greatly appreciated it. Any donations can be left with Ms. Welch in the OGS Office or Mrs. Hood in the OHS Office. Without monetary donations, CHOW would not be able to provide these bags of food for the children. If you or anyone you know needs the program, sign-up forms are available in the school offices.
